Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at age 88 following a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and heart failure, the Vatican confirmed. Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the Pope’s longtime physician, has since shared new details about the pontiff’s final moments—and his last regret.
Dr. Alfieri, who had treated the Pope during his hospital stay for double pneumonia weeks earlier, was called to the Vatican early on April 21. Arriving around 5:50 a.m., he found Francis conscious but unresponsive. “He had his eyes open but didn’t respond to stimuli—not even painful ones,” Alfieri told Corriere della Sera. “He was in a coma. There was nothing more to do.”
While some officials suggested taking the Pope to a hospital, Alfieri believed it was too late. “It was one of those strokes that, in an hour, carries you away,” he said.