The Vatican officially announced the cause of Pope Francis’s death, which occurred early in the morning on April 21
The Holy See’s official statement confirmed that the 86th pontiff died as a result of a stroke, which proved to be fatal to his health. Details outlined in the document published by the Vatican shed light on the circumstances leading to the tragedy. According to the Vatican’s chief medical officer, Andrea Arcangeli, Francis suffered an acute stroke that caused a coma and cardiac failure. These medical complications were the final stages in the life of the spiritual leader, whose health was significantly compromised by chronic illnesses. Specifically, the Pope had a severe case of pneumonia, which led to decreased respiratory function, as well as diagnoses of hypertension and diabetes, which also negatively affected his condition. According to the conclusions of the forensic examination, the death occurred at 7:35 a.m. in the Pope’s private apartments in the Vatican. As reports from Italian media indicate, the cause of death was confirmed to be a stroke, which proved fatal for the clergyman. The significance of this event garnered widespread international attention — notably, there were reports that U.S. President Donald Trump plans to visit the Vatican at the end of this week to attend the funeral of the pontiff. Announcements of the funeral arrangements have already attracted increased attention and hopes among believers and diplomatic circles worldwide, as Pope Francis’s passing marked a notable chapter in the spiritual life of the Catholic Church and the international community.