The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis died from a stroke that led to a coma and heart failure.
According to his death certificate released on Monday, the 88-year-old pope passed away at 7:35 am in his apartment at the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican.
The document stated that the Catholic leader died of a “cerebral stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.” It was signed by Professor Andrea Arcangeli, the director of health of the Vatican City State.
Pope Francis had recently spent five weeks in hospital battling double pneumonia. He was discharged almost a month before his death. Doctors said he had already suffered from acute respiratory failure during his hospital stay.
The certificate also revealed that he had other health problems, including high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and multiple bronchiectasis – a condition that affects the lungs. His diabetes was not publicly known before now.
Pope Francis died just a day after he appeared in public to give his Easter Sunday greeting. He waved to crowds from a wheelchair on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica while an aide read his message.
The Vatican and millions of Catholics around the world are mourning the loss of the pope, who led the Church for 12 years.
