The Vatican confirmed Monday that Pope Francis has died at the age of 88 in his residence at Casa Santa Marta, ending a controversial decade-long papacy marked by globalist overtures, divisive political stances, and growing health concerns.
Now, Italian media are reporting the likely cause of death: a cerebral hemorrhage, possibly a stroke, occurring just hours after the Pope awoke for morning prayer.
According to the Daily Mail, citing La Repubblica and La Stampa, sources close to the pontiff’s medical team revealed that the stroke was not related to the severe respiratory issues and double pneumonia that had plagued him in February and led to a lengthy hospitalization.
Despite being reportedly advised to rest for at least two months, Pope Francis ignored medical warnings and resumed public-facing duties—including an extended appearance during Easter Sunday Mass.
The Vatican’s Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, announced that the Pope died at 7:35 AM in Vatican City.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Farrell said in a statement.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. 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.”
Francis had long battled chronic respiratory ailments, including a partially removed lung from his youth, which many close to him feared had made him especially vulnerable during his final months.
According to Vatican News, in 1957, while in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove part of his lung following a severe respiratory infection.
As he aged, Pope Francis continued to experience recurring respiratory issues, including a bout of influenza and lung inflammation that forced him to cancel a scheduled visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023.
The pontiff was admitted to the hospital on February 14, presenting symptoms of bronchitis. His frail health quickly devolved into double pneumonia — a dangerous condition for someone who, like Francis, had one lung removed as a young man.
“The doctor said it was the pope’s personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, who urged the medical team to keep up the treatment in the wake of the vomiting episode.”
For days, the medical team risked damage to Francis’ kidneys and bone marrow, but the 88-year-old finally responded to the heavy medication and his infection subsided.
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis’ body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, starting as early as Wednesday. His final resting place will be in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
According to reports, the Conclave—where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to elect a new pope—will not take place for at least 15 days.
While the mainstream press mourns the death of the Church’s first Latin American pope, many conservatives remember Francis as a divisive figure who turned the Vatican into a platform for leftist activism. From championing open borders and climate alarmism to embracing radical social agendas that stood in stark contrast to centuries of Catholic teaching, Francis increasingly alienated traditional Catholics across the globe.
His tenure saw frequent clashes with bishops who pushed back on doctrinal drift, and many faithful accused the Pope of prioritizing global political narratives over spiritual leadership.
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