Pope Francis died from a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican has said and also revealed his burial wishes.
A death certificate released for the 88-year-old pontiff said he had fallen into a coma before his death, which was announced on Monday.
The Vatican released the Pope’s final testament, in which he outlined his request to be buried “in the ground, without particular ornamentation” but with the inscription “Franciscus”.
Francis said he wished to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, rather than at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where many previous pontiffs have been laid to rest.
His coffin might be moved to St Peter’s Basilica as early as Wednesday morning to allow the faithful to pay their respects, a Vatican spokesman said.
The Pope had suffered from a chronic lung disease and had part of a lung removed as a young man.
Health issues plagued him throughout his later life, and he was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome on 14 February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.
This led to a 38-day stay in hospital, the longest of his 12-year papacy.
But the leader of the world’s Roman Catholics emerged on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, to bless thousands in St Peter’s Square.
Before the public appearance, the Pope “exchanged good wishes” with US vice president JD Vance during a private audience at the Vatican.
Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement of his death.
Tributes pour in from around the world following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88.
- Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died aged 88
- He died of stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure, the Vatican says in a statement
- Calm descended on St Peter’s Square as hundreds gathered in prayer for the late Pope, our reporter at the Vatican writes
- The pontiff’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from Catholics across the globe. From South Sudan to Argentina, Poland to the Philippines.
- The Vatican confirmed the pontiff died at 07:35 local time on Monday; he was recently discharged from hospital after weeks of treatment for an infection
- What happens next? We look at the papal funeral and the election of a new pope
