Pope Francis died of a stroke followed by heart failure on Monday morning, the Vatican’s press office said in a statement released Monday evening.
Francis’ death was also affected other by other ailments, including a “previous episode of acute respiratory failure,” arterial hypertension and type II diabetes, the statement said.
The statement was signed by the Director of the Health and Hygiene Directorate of the Vatican City State, Andrea Arcangeli.
The late pontiff was hospitalized for five weeks earlier this year, initially suffering from a severe respiratory infection. He was subsequently diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection, which evolved to pneumonia in both lungs. Francis came close to death during his hospitalization, according to his medical team.
His doctors had said that the pope was so critically ill the staff considered stopping his treatment so he could die. After his medical team said his condition had stabilized, he continued his recovery at his Casa Santa Marta residence.
Despite his poor health, Francis, one of the oldest popes in the church’s history, was seen a number of times in public at the Vatican during Holy Week, culminating in an Easter Sunday appearance where he delighted crowds at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
CNN
