A possible cause of the Pope’s de@th has been revealed by Italian media.
Pope Francis died due to a ‘cerebral haemorrhage’, possibly a stroke, which is said to be unrelated to the respiratory problems and pneumonia he suffered in February, outlets La Repubblica and La Stampa claim.
The Pope died on Easter Monday, aged 88, after dedicating his ‘entire life’ to serving God and the Church, the Vatican announced today.
His doctors said that he ‘passed away peacefully’, according to Italian media reports.
The late Pope Francis claimed he was ‘living it as best’ as he could just days before his death.
Despite several previous health issues and reduced mobility caused in part by his advancing years and expanding waistline, the pontiff had kept up a busy schedule until his final weeks.
In September 2024, he carried out a 12-day tour across south-east Asia and Oceania that included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore.
When he was discharged from the hospital last month, his doctors had said he would need at least two months of rest at his residence.
The pontiff had presented ‘two very critical episodes’ where his ‘life was in danger’ while in hospital, according to one of the doctors who took care of him.
But he appeared keen not to be confined to his rooms at the Casa Santa Maria.
The late figure made surprise appearances at the end of Masses and visits to St Peter’s Basilica, which gave faithful hope that his condition was improving.
In the last week of his life, he appeared in public twice without the nasal cannula through which he has been receiving oxygen.
Pope Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.
He spent 38 days there, the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy.
However, he emerged on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, to bless thousands of people in St Peter’s Square.