The Vatican has officially attributed Pope Francis’s death to a stroke followed by irreversible cardiovascular arrest, according to a medical report released by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the Holy See’s chief physician.
The document disclosed the pontiff had lapsed into a coma prior to his passing and had managed chronic health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and a recurrent lung infection, in his final months.
Despite these challenges, the 88-year-old pope maintained his public duties until days before his death, notably presiding over Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Square on April 20, 2025. His sudden decline shocked global observers, given his visible commitment to engagements despite privately battling deteriorating health.
Pope Francis, elected in 2013 as the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, leaves a legacy defined by advocacy for marginalized communities, environmental stewardship, and interfaith collaboration. His tenure emphasized humility, from eschewing papal palaces to championing refugees and condemning economic inequality. By his request, he will be interred at Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, a site emblematic of his devotion to Marian spirituality and the peripheries of society.
Global tributes have flooded in, with world leaders and faith groups alike commemorating his unflinching moral voice on issues such as climate change, migration, and peacebuilding. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres hailed him as a “bridge-builder in a fractured world,” while interfaith leaders praised his efforts to foster Catholic-Muslim dialogue, particularly in conflict zones like the Sahel.
Attention now turns to the impending papal conclave, where approximately 135 cardinals will gather within weeks to elect a successor. The process, steeped in centuries-old tradition, carries heightened significance as the Church navigates pressures to address internal reforms, global polarization, and the very social justice imperatives Francis prioritized.
His death underscores the physical toll of leading one of the world’s most visible institutions, even as his spiritual resolve remained unshaken. Analysts note that while Francis’s progressive stances on inclusion and ecology reshaped Church discourse, his successor will inherit the complex task of balancing doctrinal continuity with evolving societal demands. As millions mourn, the Vatican’s transparency about his health offers a rare glimpse into the human vulnerabilities behind the papacy’s enduring symbolic power.
