The Vatican has officially disclosed Pope Francis’s cause of death, confirming that the pontiff passed away due to a cerebral stroke leading to a coma and irreversible cardio-circulatory collapse.
According to the death certificate released by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Vatican’s Directorate of Health and Hygiene, Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. on April 21, 2025, in his apartment at Casa Santa Marta.
The certificate detailed that the 88-year-old pontiff suffered a stroke, which triggered a coma and subsequent heart failure.
Also, the certificate revealed that Pope Francis suffered from additional health complications that included a history of acute respiratory failure from bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension, and type II diabetes.
This comes after Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced the pontiff’s passing stating: “The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Pope Francis’ death came as a shock to many, especially as he made a public appearance on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025.
Despite his frail health, the pontiff greeted thousands in St. Peter’s Square from his wheelchair, delivering a blessing.
Recall that the pope had faced serious health challenges in recent months. In February 2025, he was hospitalized for over five weeks at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, initially for a respiratory tract infection that developed into bilateral pneumonia.
Meanwhile, world leaders and Catholics alike have mourned the loss of Pope Francis.
Follow live update on Pope Francis’s cause of death, succession and global reactions here on Pan-Atlantic Kompass
