The Vatican has revealed that Pope Francis died of a stroke, which led to a coma and ultimately “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”
Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, head of the Vatican’s health department, announced the Pontiff’s cause of death in a statement.
In addition to the cerebral stroke, Pope Francis was suffering from pneumonia in both lungs, which caused episodes of respiratory insufficiency.
The Catholic Pontiff passed away at the age of 88 in his Vatican residence on Easter Monday.
Pope Francis’s death followed over two months of struggling with his health, including severe respiratory infections that required supplemental oxygen and emergency medical treatment.
He was initially hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital in Rome for 38 days after being rushed there on February 14 for bronchitis.