Shortly after Easter, Pope Francis passed away in the early morning hours of April 21. With millions mourning his legacy as one of the most progressive religious leaders, the Vatican has shared new details about his final hours on Earth, including some of his last words.
Francis had a busy day before he passed, taking to the streets on Easter in the popemobile to greet the 50,000 worshippers gathered outside St. Peter's Basilica. The area, known as St. Peter’s Square, has long been the symbolic heart of Vatican City, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 17th century to represent the Church’s open arms.
According to the Vatican, among Francis’s final words were, “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square.”
He said those words to Massimiliano Strappetti, the nurse who once saved his life by recommending colon surgery. Francis later appointed Strappetti as his personal healthcare assistant in 2022, and he remained by the Pope's side throughout the 38 days he was hospitalized at Casa Santa Marta.
Before visiting the Square, Francis reportedly asked Strappetti for reassurance: “Do you think I can manage it?”
The Pope's final hours
After embracing the crowd and delivering his final Apostolic Blessing, the Argentine Pope met with JD Vance, then rested that Sunday afternoon and had a quiet dinner. The Vatican says the first signs of his “sudden illness” appeared around 5:30 a.m., and staff responded quickly.
About an hour later, Francis made a “gesture of farewell” with his hand to Strappetti while lying in bed in his second-floor apartment at Casa Santa Marta, before slipping into a coma. He passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time.
The Vatican noted that he did not suffer, saying it “was a discreet death, almost sudden, without long-suffering or public alarm, for a Pope who was always very reserved about his health.”
Rest in power