Pope Francis’ Final Moments Recounted by Personal Doctor

Pope Francis’ longtime doctor, Sergio Alfieri, has shared details of the pontiff’s final moments, describing a peaceful death that came early Monday morning after a sudden illness. In interviews with Italian newspapers *Corriere della Sera* and *La Repubblica*, Alfieri explained that Francis had been unresponsive by the time he arrived at his Vatican residence. The pope had his eyes open and was breathing with supplemental oxygen, but did not respond to voice or pain stimuli, prompting the doctor to conclude that he had entered a coma. He passed away two hours later from a stroke.

Dr. Alfieri had been overseeing the pope’s recovery after a five-week hospital stay for double pneumonia earlier this year. After returning to the Vatican on March 23, Francis was ordered to rest for two months. Despite this, the pope remained active, driven by what Alfieri now believes was a deep sense of mission to fulfill final obligations before his death.

The doctor was alerted around 5:30 a.m. by the pope’s healthcare assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti. By the time Alfieri arrived 20 minutes later, the pope was already unresponsive. The decision was made not to transfer him back to the Gemelli hospital due to the risk involved. Alfieri emphasized that Francis died without suffering, at home.

In the moments following his death, Cardinal Pietro Parolin arrived to say the rosary over the pope’s body, joined by members of the papal household. “I gave him a caress as a farewell,” Alfieri said.

The Vatican later confirmed reports that the pope managed a final gesture of farewell to Strappetti after falling ill. Alfieri, who became Francis’ surgeon in 2021 during treatment for diverticulitis, said the pope had suffered multiple severe respiratory crises in recent months. Though his condition had improved with therapy, the damage to his lungs was irreversible.

Alfieri recalled seeing the pope just two days before his death. “I found him in good shape. I didn’t think it would be the last meeting,” he said. Even as he recovered, Francis insisted on returning to public life, appearing in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, greeting crowds and blessing children. He also welcomed Gemelli healthcare staff to the Vatican before Easter—despite Alfieri’s recommendation to wait until June.

Reflecting on the pope’s actions in his final weeks, Alfieri noted, “I have the clear sensation now that there were a series of things he felt he had to do before dying. We knew he wanted to return home to be pope until the last instant, and he didn’t disappoint us.”