As the Christian world mourns Pope Francis’s passing, the Vatican has announced his cause of death as a cerebral stroke and ensuing heart failure.
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Pope Francis’ passing is confirmed by the Vatican’s Dr. Andrea Arcangeli and raises questions about the future of the Church.
Francis, aged 88, suffered a medical crisis on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, leading to a coma and eventual heart failure.
The Vatican confirmed his death, and he passed away in his apartment at Casa Santa Marta, corroborated by an ECG test.
This somber revelation marks the end of a pontificate characterized by humility and a focus on poverty, inequality, and reforms within the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis’ health history included severe pneumonia, bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, which likely contributed to his declining health.
More recently, he was hospitalized for respiratory illness and double pneumonia.
His early years were marked by chronic lung disease, with part of a lung removed in his youth, emphasizing the lifelong battle he faced with health challenges.
In a final wish reflecting his humble approach to life, Pope Francis requested burial in a simple tomb at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome instead of the traditional burial beneath St Peter’s Basilica.
This decision simplifies the papal funeral rites and aligns with his criticism of extravagance within the Vatican.
His body has been placed in a coffin at Casa Santa Marta, with transportation to St Peter’s Basilica planned, where the public may pay their respects.
“The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica,” Pope Francis said previously, cited by The Guardian.
The funeral date will be determined by the cardinals within four to six days after his passing.
Additionally, a conclave will occur within 20 days to elect his successor.
Potential contenders for the papacy include figures like Matteo Zuppi, Pietro Parolin, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
These individuals reflect the range of views and directions the Church might take moving forward.
Pope Francis was known for his progressive views on social issues while steadfastly upholding traditional Catholic doctrine.
He addressed clerical sexual abuse, required clergy to report abuse, and protected whistleblowers.
His advocacy for the poor, refugees, and his condemnation of linking Islam with violence showcased his commitment to a more humanitarian vision of the Church.
World leaders, including King Charles, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama have expressed their condolences, praising his leadership.
As the Church prepares for the conclave to elect a new pope, the legacy of Pope Francis, advocating for integrity and compassion while embracing traditional values, remains at the forefront of discussion.
Pope Francis’s official cause of death was a stroke early Monday, followed by a coma and a fatal heart attack.
Despite doctors urging him to rest, he spent his final day riding through St. Peter’s Square and offering the Urbi et Orbi blessing—his last gesture of love and… pic.twitter.com/3P8j8HkNDR
— AF Post (@AFpost) April 21, 2025
