Pope Francis passed away in the early hours of Monday, April 21, 2025, following a sudden and massive stroke, according to Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of his medical team at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The 88-year-old Pontiff died in his private Vatican residence without suffering, slipping into a coma from which he never regained consciousness.
Dr. Alfieri received an urgent call at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at the papal quarters by 5:50 a.m., only to find the Holy Father unresponsive. “He had his eyes open, but there was no respiratory distress. I called his name, but he did not respond. That was the moment I knew—it was over,” Alfieri said during a press briefing in Rome on April 24.
Attempts to consider hospitalizing the Pontiff were quickly dismissed due to the severity and rapid progression of the stroke. “He would have died on the way,” Alfieri explained, emphasizing that while a scan might have confirmed the diagnosis, it would not have changed the outcome. “It was one of those catastrophic cerebral events that takes everything within an hour.”
The death came as a profound shock to the Vatican and the global Catholic community, especially as Pope Francis had made a vibrant public appearance less than 24 hours earlier. On Easter Sunday, April 20, he was seen blessing crowds from the open-top popemobile in St. Peter’s Square, smiling and waving to tens of thousands of pilgrims who had gathered for the holy celebration.
Francis had previously spent five weeks at Gemelli Hospital earlier in 2025 battling double pneumonia, an illness that nearly claimed his life in February. Despite concerns about his declining health, his recent activities suggested he was regaining strength, making his sudden passing even more heartbreaking for followers around the world.
Known for his humility, reformist vision, and focus on the marginalized, Pope Francis led the Catholic Church through a transformative era. His death not only ends a deeply symbolic papacy but also leaves a spiritual vacuum in a world still grappling with inequality, war, and division—issues he fiercely confronted with love and conviction.
Tributes continue to pour in from world leaders, religious figures, and the faithful. A Vatican spokesperson confirmed that a Requiem Mass will be held on Friday, April 25, at St. Peter’s Basilica, with dignitaries from over 100 countries expected to attend. The College of Cardinals is set to begin the conclave process shortly after the burial rites.
