Behind the solemn walls of the Vatican, Pope Francis’ final hours unfolded with quiet dignity and profound humanity. On Easter Monday, April 21, at dawn, a familiar face hurried through the halls: Sergio Alfieri, Pope Francis’ personal surgeon and trusted confidant, who had cared for him through previous battles with illness. Called urgently by the Pope’s health assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, Alfieri arrived at Santa Marta within 20 minutes. What he found was deeply moving—Pope Francis lying with his eyes open but unresponsive, already slipping away from the world he had served with unwavering devotion.
There were no signs of respiratory distress, no outward panic, just a heartbreaking stillness. “He didn’t respond to stimuli, even painful ones,” Alfieri recalled somberly. “At that moment, I realized there was nothing more I could do. He was in a coma.” The idea of transferring him to Gemelli Hospital was quickly dismissed; the risk of death during transport was too great. Instead, those closest to the Pope gathered around him—Strappetti, nurses, secretaries—determined to fulfill his quiet wish to die at home, surrounded by the people who had walked with him through his papacy.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin soon arrived to lead a rosary prayer over the Holy Father. As the prayers filled the small room, Alfieri gently caressed the Pope’s hand in a final, personal farewell. It was a privilege, the doctor later reflected, to witness those sacred moments.
Their relationship had begun years earlier when Pope Francis entrusted Alfieri with his health during a serious bout of diverticulitis. Over time, trust and affection deepened between them. Alfieri remembered how the Pope blessed his hands before surgery, encouraging him to not just work with skill, but with heart. Even in the Pope’s final months, their connection remained strong, marked by small, meaningful gestures—like the dark tart Alfieri brought him on Easter Eve, a favorite treat that Francis delighted in before preparing for the next day’s blessings.
In those final weeks, Pope Francis defied the frailty of his body with characteristic resolve. Although doctors prescribed sixty days of convalescence, he insisted on resuming light work, telling Alfieri with a smile, “I’m very well. I started working again, and I’m up for it.” On Easter Sunday, despite the strain it placed on him, he surprised thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square by riding in the popemobile, blessing the faithful, and especially reaching out to children. It was his last public appearance—and a reflection of the ministry he had always championed: walking humbly with his people.
It was also clear that the Pope had important personal missions to complete. Ten days before Easter, he insisted on hosting the healthcare team from Gemelli Hospital who had cared for him during his latest stay. Alfieri now sees these decisions in a different light. “I have the clear sensation now that there were a series of things he felt he had to do before dying,” he said.
The Holy Father’s passing, while sudden, was peaceful. Vatican News later revealed that just before slipping into a coma, Francis raised his hand in a gentle gesture of farewell to Strappetti, the nurse who had been by his side through every setback and recovery. His final whispered words were directed to Strappetti as well: “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square.”
This small act, captured only by those present, said everything about Pope Francis’ spirit. His papacy had begun with a pledge to walk “together” with the people of God—and even in his final moments, he honored that promise, with humility, love, and grace.
Medical reports later confirmed the cause of death: a massive stroke, leading to a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. According to Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Vatican’s Health and Hygiene Directorate, his health had been fragile for some time, compounded by pneumonia, high blood pressure, bronchiectasis, and type 2 diabetes. His death was verified through electrocardiographic thanatography, a quiet ending to a life that had stirred a billion souls across the globe.
As mourners from around the world flocked to Vatican City to honor him, one truth remained unmistakable: Pope Francis, until his final breath, lived—and died—faithful to the people he loved.
