Editing Pope Pius XII (section)

===Illness and death===
[[File:1983pasca.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Mother [[Pascalina Lehnert]], Pius XII's housekeeper and confidant for 41 years, until his death<ref name="Gerard Noel, p.9"/>]]
[[File:Correio da Manhã AN 439.jpg|left|thumb|Photograph of Pius XII on his deathbed in Castel Gandolfo, taken on 10 October 1958]]

With frequent absences from work, Pope Pius XII had come to depend heavily on a few close colleagues, especially his aide [[Domenico Tardini]], his speechwriter [[Robert Leiber]], and his long-serving housekeeper Sister [[Pascalina Lehnert]]. The Pope still addressed lay people and groups about a wide range of topics. Sometimes he answered specific moral questions addressed to him. To professional associations he explained specific occupational ethics in light of church teachings. Robert Leiber helped him occasionally with his speeches and publications. Cardinal [[Augustin Bea]] was his personal confessor. Sister Pascalina was for forty years his "housekeeper, muse and lifelong companion".<ref>Noel, p. 4</ref>

On Monday, 6 October 1958, at around 8:30 CET (7:30 GMT), he suffered a stroke, weakening him greatly in addition to his other maladies, after having taken ill the previous day after a series of meetings. He received the [[Last rites]]. However, his condition suitably improved until 8 October when he suffered a second stroke. By the mid-afternoon, his doctors had reported that Pius XII was suffering from a severe cardio-pulmonary collapse and by 15:00 CET (14:00 GMT) believed that his death was imminent. Just before sunset, Pius XII contracted pneumonia and doctors immediately moved to bring in oxygen and blood plasma. His last words were reportedly, "Pray. Pray that this regrettable situation for the church may end".<ref name=accounts>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=3304|title=Newspaper Accounts of the Death of Pope Pius XII|publisher=Catholic Culture|accessdate=7 February 2022}}</ref>

On the last full day of his life, his temperature rose steadily and his breathing became difficult. At 3:52 CET (2:52 GMT) on Thursday, 9 October, a Feast of Saint [[Denis of Paris]], he gave a smile, lowered his head and died. The cause of death was recorded as acute [[heart failure]]. Domenico Tardini prayed the ''[[Magnificat]] Anima mea dominum'', the Virgin Mary's praise of the Lord, in Latin. His doctor Gaspanini said afterwards: "The Holy Father did not die because of any specific illness. He was completely exhausted. He was overworked beyond limit. His heart was healthy, his lungs were good. He could have lived another 20 years, had he spared himself."<ref>Lehnert, Pascalina, p. 191</ref> [[Francoist Spain|Spain]] declared ten days of mourning;<ref name="delpher.nl">{{cite news | url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:011234329:mpeg21 | title=Gevonden in Delpher – de Tĳd : Godsdienstig-staatkundig dagblad | newspaper=De Tĳd : Godsdienstig-Staatkundig Dagblad | date=9 October 1958 }}</ref> [[Fourth Brazilian Republic|Brazil]] declared five days of mourning;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.planalto.gov.br/CcIVIL_03/decreto/1950-1969/D44611.htm | title=D44611 }}</ref> [[Italy]] declared three days of mourning and the closure of offices and schools as a sign of respect;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=3304 | title=Library : Newspaper Accounts of the Death of Pope Pius XII }}</ref> [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Portugal]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://casacomum.org/cc/visualizador?pasta=06533.071.15978 | title=06533.071.15978 }}</ref> and [[Republic of Cuba (1902–1959)|Cuba]] declared three days of mourning.<ref name="delpher.nl"/>

The Testament of Pope Pius XII was published in the month of his death.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=20 October 1958 |title=Religion: Pius XII, 1876-1958 |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,863973,00.html |access-date=22 January 2023 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref>