 The last years of the pontificate of Pius XII began in late 1954 with a long illness , during which he considered abdication . Afterwards , changes in his work habit became noticeable . The Pope avoided long ceremonies , canonizations and consistories and displayed hesitancy in personnel matters . He found it increasingly difficult to chastise subordinates and appointees such as his physician , Riccardo Galeazzi @-@ Lisi , who , after numerous indiscretions was excluded from Papal service for the last years , but , keeping his title , was able to enter the papal apartments to make photos of the dying Pope , which he sold to French magazines . Pius underwent three courses of cellular rejuvenation treatment administered by Dr. Paul Niehans , the most important in 1954 when Pacelli was gravely ill . Side @-@ effects of the treatment included hallucinations , from which the Pope suffered in his last years . " These years were also plagued by horrific nightmares . Pacelli 's blood @-@ curdling screams could be heard throughout the papal apartments . " 
