Doctor Reveals Pope Francis’ Final Moments, Says ‘He Died Without Suffering’

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of Pope Francis’ medical team, stated on Thursday that the pontiff passed away swiftly on Monday morning due to an unexpected stroke, experiencing minimal pain.

He noted that there was nothing the medical team could have done to prevent the outcome.

Alfieri, a physician at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital who previously managed the pope’s treatment during a five-week battle with double pneumonia earlier this year, said he received an urgent call around 5:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) on Monday.

He arrived at the Vatican approximately 20 minutes later.

“I entered his rooms and he (Francis) had his eyes open. I ascertained that there were no respiratory problems. And then I tried to call his name, but he did not respond to me.

“At that moment I knew there was nothing more to do. He was in a coma,” he said.

According to Dr. Alfieri, some officials present with Pope Francis at the time suggested transferring him immediately back to the hospital. However, due to the sudden nature of the stroke and the rapid deterioration of his condition, there was not enough time to act on those recommendations.

“He would have died on the way. Doing a scan we would have had a more exact diagnosis, but nothing more. It was one of those strokes that, in an hour, carries you away,” he added.

Pope Francis, who was 88, had come close to death during his recent battle with pneumonia, but his passing still came as a surprise.

Just a day before his death, he had appeared in St. Peter’s Square aboard an open-air popemobile, warmly greeting crowds gathered for Easter Sunday—an appearance that had suggested his recovery was progressing well.