Pope Francis died of a stroke, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State has revealed.
Dr. Andrea said the pontiff’s stroke was followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
He issued the official certification, and the Holy See Press Office released the report on Monday, April 21 evening.
According to the medical report, the Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes.
His death was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography. “I hereby declare,” wrote Dr. Arcangeli, “that the causes of death, to the best of my knowledge and judgment, are as stated above.”
Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in the Pauline Chapel, which houses the ancient icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani, as he requested in his Spiritual Testament.
