Pope Francis in the Vatican. Photo: Getty images
The Vatican has officially announced the cause of death of Pope Francis, who passed away on 21 April 2025. According to Vatican News, the corresponding certificate was released by the press service of the Holy See on the evening of the same day, Ukrinform reports.
The document, signed by Professor Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Vatican City State Health and Hygiene Directorate, states that Pope Francis died at 7:35 am at the residence of St Martha’s House in the Vatican.
“The cause of death was a cerebral stroke that led to a coma, as well as irreversible cardiovascular collapse,” the document says.
The death was recorded using an electrocardiogram.
The certificate also states that the Pope suffered from chronic illnesses, among other things:
- acute respiratory failure that occurred after bilateral multimicrobial pneumonia;
- multiple bronchiectasis;
- arterial hypertension;
- type II diabetes mellitus.
Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Catholic Church, had been heading the Vatican since 2013. His death was a turning point for millions of Catholics around the world. The date of the funeral and the start of the conclave to elect a new pope are expected to be announced in the coming days.
