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The Holy See has also revealed the pontiff’s final will.
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis passed away due to a stroke followed by heart failure. This statement clarifies the health issues that contributed to his death at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.
According to the Holy See, Francis died at 7:35 a.m. on April 21 at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, stated the official cause of death as “stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”
“I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and judgment, the causes of death are as stated above,” Dr. Arcangeli noted in the official death certificate that was released on Monday evening.
The Vatican’s statement further indicated that the Pope had been suffering from several long-term illnesses, including bilateral pneumonia, bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Francis had recently spent 38 days in the hospital for double pneumonia, during which he experienced a critical health situation that reportedly led doctors to consider palliative care.
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis’ body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica starting Wednesday, allowing the public to offer their respects. Cardinals are expected to meet on Tuesday to decide on the date of the funeral, which is traditionally held between four and six days after a pope’s death.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was elected in March 2013 as the first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope. His 12-year papacy was notable for its emphasis on humility, social justice, and dialogue between different faiths. He was widely recognized for his support of the poor, environmental protection, and efforts to reform the Catholic Church.