Pope John Paul spent the final hours of his life surrounded by the only family he had - his closest Polish aides.
The Pope died at 9:37 pm (8.37pm Irish time) in his private apartments in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.
The Vatican said in a statement that the Pontiff's aides had begun celebrating a mass in the Pope's bedroom at 8pm. It was celebrated by his two private secretaries, both of them Polish, as well as a Polish cardinal and a Polish archbishop.
At the moment of his death one hour and 37 minutes later, he was surrounded by five Polish prelates and four Polish nuns who had been looking after him for much of his papacy. Three Italian doctors and two nurses were also there.
The Pope received the Sacrament of the Infirm, once known as Last Rites, and the Holy Viaticum communion, reserved for those near death.
Only after his death were non-Polish Vatican officials, including Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, let inside. They paid their respects and began the ritual Vatican procedures that follow the death of a pope.
The Vatican said the Pope's body would be brought to St Peter's Basilica for viewing by the faithful at the earliest on Monday afternoon.