Pope Francis passed away from a stroke, leading to a coma and “irreversible” heart failure, as stated in his death certificate made public by the Vatican on Monday.
The 88-year-old Catholic pontiff passed away in the morning on Monday, nearly a month following his discharge from five weeks of hospitalization due to double pneumonia.
A Long Hospital Stay and Final Appearance of Pope Francis
On February 14, 2025, Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease, was admitted to the hospital after suffering a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. It was his longest hospitalization in his 12-year papacy, which lasted 38 days.
Before a celebratory crowd at St. Peter’s Square, the Pope made his last public appearance on Sunday as part of an Easter blessing and popemobile ride. The date for the funeral has yet to be scheduled, and the next pope has not yet been chosen.
The pope had also requested that he be buried in a simple basement vault in St. Mary Major Basilica.
Canonization of Carlo Acutis Postponed
The Vatican also announced that the planned canonisation of Carlo Acutis, the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint, has been postponed following Pope Francis’ death.
Acutis, who passed away from leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15, was to be canonised on April 27. Known as “God’s Influencer” for his efforts to spread Catholic teachings online, Carlo was born in London, raised in Milan, and died in Monza, Italy.
“Following the death of the Sovereign Pontiff Francis, we inform you that the Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis… has been postponed,” the Vatican said in a brief statement.
Despite being raised in a secular household, Carlo developed a strong spiritual life from a young age, attending mass daily and using the internet to evangelize.
