The Vatican has officially confirmed the cause of death for Pope Francis, who passed away Monday morning at the age of 88. According to the announcement, the pontiff suffered a cerebral stroke that left him in a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.
The news comes just one day after Pope Francis made his final public appearance, riding in the popemobile through St. Peter’s Square and offering blessings during Easter Sunday celebrations.
Pope Francis had recently returned to the Vatican following a five-week hospital stay that began on February 14, 2025. He had been admitted after experiencing a respiratory crisis that later developed into double pneumonia. The hospitalization marked the longest of his 12-year papacy.
Known to have chronic lung issues stemming from a partial lung removal in his youth, the pope’s overall health had been closely monitored in recent years. While his return to the Vatican in March signaled improvement, Monday’s announcement confirmed that underlying complications had continued to impact his condition.
The Vatican stated Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. Central European Summer Time (1:35 a.m. Eastern Time). His passing was formally announced just over two hours later by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, who will oversee the Church’s administrative duties until a new pope is elected.
With the cause of death now confirmed, attention will turn to funeral arrangements and preparations for the papal conclave, during which the College of Cardinals will choose the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
