The Vatican released details about the last hours of Pope Francis, who died on Monday morning at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke that led to a heart failure.
The Vatican information states that the first signs of illness appeared around 5:30 in the early hours of Monday. An hour later, the pontiff fell into a coma and never regained consciousness. He passed away at 7:35 am Italy time.
According to the statement, those who were with him at the time of his death affirmed that the pope did not show signs of suffering.
What were the last hours of Pope Francis like?
Vatican News detailed that, just before falling into a coma, the pope made a farewell gesture with his hand towards his personal medical assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti.
Strappetti, who was appointed assistant by the pope in 2022, was present alongside the pontiff throughout the hospitalization process, accompanying him 24 hours a day for the 38 days leading up to his passing. He was also one of the last people to hear him speak. “Thank you for taking me to the square,” were the last words of Francis, as reported by the official Vatican media.
His last public appearance
The day before his death, on Easter Sunday, the pope had expressed doubts about whether he could travel around St. Peter’s Square in the traditional popemobile. Still recovering from a severe pneumonia that kept him away from public events, he felt unsure about his physical ability. Before leaving, he consulted with his assistant: “Do you think I can do it?”, to which Strappetti reassured him.
Finally, Francis took part in the tour, greeting the faithful from the vehicle and stopping to hug children, in front of a crowd of approximately 50,000 people. It was his first full outing to the square after his recovery.
After the walk, he returned to rest in the afternoon and had a peaceful dinner. Hours later, the symptoms that foreshadowed his death began.