Pope Francis' final moments show rapid deterioration before pontiff's death

Pope Francis , showing the rapid deterioration of his health before he died on Easter Monday.

Theis understood to have woken at 6am on Monday and was fine for at least an hour but then around 7am Vatican medics had an emergency call from his Casa Santa Marta apartment, it is reported. Doctors considered taking him back to the Gemelli hospital where he wasand an urgent escort was requested from the police. But it had to be cancelled at 7.35am due to how rapidly Francis’ health deteriorated, a source has said.

The Argentine pontiff, who had been recovering after being hospitalized for five weeks with pneumonia, died Monday at age 88 from a stroke that led to a coma and ireversible heart failure. He made his last public appearance Sunday, delivering a blessing and looping around Vatican City’s famous square in his popemobile.

Francis initially had doubts about the ride, Vatican News reported. “Do you think I can manage it?’’ the pope asked Massimiliano Strappetti, his personal health care assistant, according to the news agency.

The pope was reassured, and he stopped to reach out to people, especially children, as he was driven through the crowd of 50,000 — the first time since his release from the hospital that he had mixed with the faithful at large. Afterward, Francis told Strappetti, “Thank you for bringing me back to the square,” Vatican News said.

His Easter appearance from the same loggia where he was introduced to the as the first pope from the Americas on March 13, 2013, was a fitting bookend to a 12-year papacy that sought to shake up the church and return it to its Gospel-mandated mission of caring for the poorest.

The pope died after a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican has now confirmed. He had resumed some official duties earlier this month during his recovery from double pneumonia.

The Vatican statement on the Pope's death read: "I certify that His Holiness Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) born in Buenos Aires () on December 17, 1936, Resident in Vatican City, Vatican Citizen, died at 7:35 am on April 21, 2025 in his apartment at the Domus Santa Marta (Vatican City) due to: stroke, coma, irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse."

Francis’ funeral will be held Saturday at 10am local time (9am UK time) in St. Peter’s Square, celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. U.S. President said he and first lady plan to attend, and Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will also be in attendance. Meanwhile, Prince William will represent King Charles at the funeral in keeping with modern tradition in what will be a major milestone in William's role as a global statesman and future king.

He will lie in state starting Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. According to current norms, the conclave to choose Francis’ successor must begin between May 5 and 10.