Vatican Announces Actual Cause of Pope Francis' Death, Details Emerge

• The Vatican confirmed Pope Francis died from a stroke that led to a coma and heart failure, with his passing officially certified on Monday, April 21, 2025
• The late Pope’s declining health was linked to previous respiratory failure, pneumonia, hypertension, and Type II diabetes, which worsened complications
• Tributes have poured in globally as the Vatican prepares funeral arrangements and the upcoming papal conclave to choose his successor

The Vatican has officially confirmed that Pope Francis died as a result of a stroke.

The Vatican, in a statement, noted that the stroke led to a coma and eventually irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse, ending his historic papacy at the age of 88.

The announcement came on the evening of Monday, April 21, 2025, through a statement released by the Holy See Press Office via X and accompanied by a certified medical report issued by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State.

Read also

“What Pope Francis taught the world”: Peter Obi attends lying-In-state ceremony of late Pontiff

Multiple health conditions contributed to Pope Francis' death

According to the medical report, Pope Francis had a complex medical history, which likely contributed to the fatal outcome.

He had previously suffered from acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, in addition to living with multiple bronchiectases, hypertension, and Type II diabetes.

These underlying conditions, the report suggested, heightened the risk and complications following the stroke that led to his death.

Doctor confirms cause of Pope Francis' death

Dr. Arcangeli’s certification provided technical confirmation of the pontiff’s passing:

“I hereby declare that the causes of death, to the best of my knowledge and judgment, are as stated above,” he wrote.

The confirmation of death was determined through electrocardiographic thanatography, a standard medical procedure used to register the cessation of cardiac activity.

Vatican mourns Pope Francis

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas, widely respected for his humility, reformist agenda, and progressive views on social justice.

Read also

Pope Francis ignores doctors’ warnings in his final days, fresh details emerge

His death has drawn global mourning, with tributes pouring in from world leaders, religious figures, and millions of Catholics.

Further announcements regarding funeral arrangements and the papal conclave to elect his successor are expected from the Vatican in the coming days.

Five Cardinals who might succeed Pope Francis

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that following his demise, the Vatican convened preparations for the election of a new pope. Per tradition, the College of Cardinals gathered for a papal conclave — a sacred and highly secretive process tasked with selecting the next spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics worldwide.

As of January 2025, there were 138 eligible electors out of a total of 252 cardinals, with only those under the age of 80 permitted to cast votes. The selection process, held within the Sistine Chapel, is expected to continue until a consensus is reached and a new pope is named.

Read also

Vatican releases first photos of Pope Francis in his casket as funeral plans bgin

Two African Cardinals, Peter Turkson of Ghana and Fridolin Ambongo Besungo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have also emerged as top contenders to succeed the late pontiff.

Source: Legit.ng