The late Pope FrancisThe Vatican has released details of Pope Francis's final moments before his death.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Vatican said the Pope rested on Sunday afternoon and had a quiet dinner.
“Around 5:30 a.m., the first signs of the sudden illness appeared, prompting an immediate response from those keeping watch over him,” the Vatican said.
About an hour later, after making a gesture of farewell with his hand while lying in bed in his second-floor apartment at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope fell into a coma.
“According to those who were with him in his final moments, he did not suffer. It all happened quickly,” the Vatican said.
The Vatican described the Pope’s death as a discreet one.
“It was almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm, for a Pope who was always very reserved about his health,” the Vatican said.
The passing of Pope Francis came the day after Easter, when he offered the city and the world his final Apostolic Blessing and embraced the faithful once more.
It was exactly the people of God with whom, from the very first moments of his election on March 13, 2013, he had promised to walk together, the Vatican said.
According to the Vatican, the Pope was happy to return to St. Peter’s Square after leaving the hospital. “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square.” This expression of gratitude was among Pope Francis’s last words to the person who had watched over him tirelessly throughout his illness, as well as before.
The Vatican said he spoke those words to Massimiliano Strappetti, the nurse who, according to the Pope himself, once saved his life by suggesting colon surgery, and whom the Holy Father later appointed in 2022 as his personal healthcare assistant.
Strappetti stayed by the Pope's side during all 38 days of his hospitalisation at Rome's Gemelli Hospital and kept watch round-the-clock during his recovery at the Casa Santa Marta.
He was with the Pope on Easter Sunday, during the Urbi et Orbi blessing.
The Vatican said that the day before, they had gone together to St. Peter’s Basilica to review the “route” he would take the following day when he was to appear on the Central Loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.
Even in his illness, the Vatican says the late Pope wanted to offer one last, meaningful surprise to the 50,000 faithful with a ride in the popemobile on Sunday after the blessing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica façade.
However, Pope Francis did hesitate a bit and asked the opinion of Strappetti, asking him, “Do you think I can manage it?”
Once in St. Peter's Square, he embraced the crowd, especially the children, since this was his first ride after being discharged from Gemelli Hospital, as well as the last outing among the faithful of his life.
Tired but content, the Pope afterwards thanked his personal healthcare assistant, saying, “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square.”
The funeral of Pope Francis, whose death at 88 prompted grief among Catholics worldwide, will be held on Saturday.
