Vatican finally break silence on Pope Francis’s cause of death

Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88 following complications from a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible cardiac failure, according to an official death certificate released by the Vatican on Monday.

The pontiff died at 7:35 a.m. (0535 GMT) in his residence at the Santa Marta guesthouse within Vatican City.

His passing comes nearly a month after being discharged from a five-week hospital stay, during which he battled a severe case of double pneumonia.

The Vatican document attributed his death to “cerebral stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”

His demise marks the end of a significant papacy known for progressive reforms, interfaith dialogue, and efforts to reshape the image of the Catholic Church in the modern world.

The pontiff had already been affected by a previous episode of acute respiratory failure when he had double pneumonia in hospital, it added.

He had also suffered from arterial hypertension, multiple bronchiectasis and Type 2 diabetes, something that was not previously known.

It was signed by the director of health of the Vatican City State, professor Andrea Arcangeli.