The Vatican has released new details about the passing of Pope Francis, confirming that the beloved 88-year-old pontiff died on the morning of April 21. According to an official statement from the Vatican, the pope suffered a cerebral stroke just after 7:30 a.m. local time in Rome, which led to an immediate coma and an irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
The cause of death was confirmed by an electrocardiogram, and Vatican Health and Hygiene Director Prof. Andrea Arcangeli noted that Pope Francis’ preexisting medical conditions played a significant role in the rapid deterioration of his health. These included type II diabetes, bronchiectasis, hypertension, and a recent respiratory failure following pneumonia. He had been hospitalized for 38 days before being discharged on March 23.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, who oversaw the pope’s care, described Francis as an extremely cooperative patient and said the global outpouring of prayers during his hospital stay contributed to what he called a temporary “miraculous” recovery. “I can say that twice the situation was lost, and then it happened like a miracle,” Alfieri recalled, highlighting how dire the pontiff’s condition had become at times.
In the weeks leading up to his passing, Pope Francis repeatedly expressed gratitude to the faithful for their prayers. On March 6, while still hospitalized, he issued a heartfelt message: “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square. May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you.”
Despite his declining health, Francis made several public appearances in his final days, including during Holy Week. Just one day before his passing, he led Easter Sunday prayers from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where thousands of well-wishers gathered to see him. He was also visited by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a devout Catholic convert, who later issued a public statement of mourning.
“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” Vance said in an April 21 post on X. “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”
