We examine Pope Francis’s last days before his death on Easter Monday in greater detail.
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell declared on Monday, “With great sadness, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis!”
What killed the pope?
Pope Francis passed away on Monday morning from a stroke, unconsciousness, and heart failure, according to a statement from the Vatican press office.
The statement also noted that the pope has type II diabetes, arterial hypertension, and a “prior episode of acute respiratory failure.”
The statement was made by Farrell almost two hours after Francis’s death, at 9:47 a.m. (07:47 GMT). Speaking from his apartment on Vatican property, Domus Santa Marta, where Francis resided and had returned to recuperate following a hospitalization for double pneumonia in February, Farrell said. Farrell will be crucial in the upcoming weeks as he will be in charge of the Holy See’s management until a new pope is selected.
Which medical issues did Pope Francis have?
The pope was admitted to the hospital for five weeks in February and March after initially developing a serious respiratory condition brought on by bacterial and viral illnesses. Winter bronchitis had plagued him frequently.
A polymicrobial infection that progressed to pneumonia in both lungs was later identified as the cause of his illness. Francis’s medical staff claims that he nearly died while in the hospital.
He also received treatment for early-stage kidney failure, a bronchial spasm that caused him to aspirate vomit after a violent coughing fit, and an asthmatic respiratory episode.
During the day, he was given high-flow oxygen therapy, and at night, he was given noninvasive mechanical ventilation.
The pope was so seriously ill, according to his doctors, that the staff thought about halting his treatment so he may pass away.
With the extremely high risk of harming other organs, we had to decide whether to continue [therapy] and let him go or to try [to save him] using all the medications and therapies available. In a recent interview, general surgeon Sergio Alfieri of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital stated, “In the end, we took this path.”
“Try everything – don’t give up,” said Massimiliano Strappetti, the pope’s personal nurse, to the medical staff, according to Alfieri.
The pontiff proceeded to recuperate at home as his illness stabilized. He had been in public a number of times in the last week, but his feeble voice was a constant reminder of his weakness.
What was the last day of Pope Francis’ life like?
Gemelli Hospital’s doctors recommended that he rest completely.
On March 23, the pope left the hospital after 38 days. He went back to his home at Casa Santa Marta.
With Easter only three weeks away, the pope’s itinerary became more and more hectic.
At the Casa Santa Marta, he met Queen Camilla and King Charles of the United Kingdom on April 9. They met during their state visit to Italy, which also happened to be their twentieth wedding anniversary.
Following the postponing of a scheduled official state visit because of the pope’s health concerns, the audience was organized at the last minute.
Francis visited Rome’s Regina Coeli on April 17, Holy Thursday, a major day in the Catholic calendar that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. There, he talked with some 70 prisoners.
Four days later, on April 20, Francis hosted US Vice President JD Vance at his home. In previous years, he had washed prisoners’ feet, echoing Jesus’s gesture with his disciples on the eve of his death. This time, however, the Vatican said he apologized for not being able to carry out the ritual and instead gave them rosaries and pocket-sized Gospels as gifts.
Vance remarked, “I’m glad to see you feeling better, even though I know you haven’t been feeling well.” “Thanks for noticing me.”
During the discussion, Vatican officials and the pope criticized several of President Donald Trump’s policies, especially his attempts to deport migrants.
The immigration crackdown has been called a “disgrace” by Francis. After converting to Catholicism in 2019, Vance has justified the policy by citing his understanding of medieval Catholic beliefs.
It was the pope’s final diplomatic encounter.
Before millions of Catholic travelers assembled in St. Peter’s Square for the Vatican’s outdoor Easter Sunday Mass later that day, he gave the customary Urbi et Orbi blessing, which translates to “to the city and the world” in Latin.
The pope at the time denounced the “deplorable humanitarian situation” brought on by Israel’s 18-month conflict against the Palestinian people. In Gaza, he also demanded a ceasefire.
Then, much to everyone’s astonishment, he rode through the masses in the open-top Popemobile, the famous white Mercedes-Benz that popes use to welcome his followers.
Toward the end of his last round of the square, a number of kids were hoisted up to him.
It would be his final appearance on Earth. Next morning, he passed away.
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