Pope John Paul II often played down his ailments and was reluctant to receive medical treatment, according to a book by some of his closest aides, including his personal physician.

Excerpts of the book, published by Italian newspapers on Wednesday, also show the Vatican knew the late Pope had the symptoms of Parkinson's disease since 1991, but kept quiet about it for five years.

The book, whose title "Let Me Go" is drawn from the pontiff's last words before dying last April 2, includes a detailed account of the Pope's medical history by his longtime doctor, Renato Buzzonetti.

Buzzonetti said the Pope, who in 1992 underwent surgery to remove a large intestinal tumor that was starting to turn malignant, had kept silent about his symptoms and pain for months and initially refused an emergency procedure recommended by his doctors.

He had already had a major abdominal operation in 1981 after an assassination attempt.

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