The Vatican says Pope Francis died of stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure.

 

Vatican City State Director of Health and Hygiene Directorate, Andrea Arcangeli, disclosed this in a statement on Monday evening.

 

Arcangeli said the pontiff’s death was also affected by other ailments, including a “previous episode of acute respiratory failure,” arterial hypertension and type II diabetes.

 

Pope Francis, 88, died earlier on Monday morning a day after his appearance at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square to give his traditional Easter address and blessing. He sat watching while an aide read his address.

 

A statement announcing his death said he died at about 7.30 a.m. at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.

 

An Argentine, Francis, whose full name is Jorge Marlo Bergoglio, was elected Pope in March 2013, following the resignation of former Pope Benedict.

 

He had battled ill-health over the years. He had surgeries twice in 2021 and 2023 just as he had a long standing knee problem that made him to use a wheelchair until his death.

Earlier this year, Francis was hospitalised for five weeks. He was discharged on March 23.