Pope Francis died unexpectedly on Monday morning from a stroke that came quickly and painlessly. Doctors were unable to save him, said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of the medical team caring for the Pope, News.bg reports.
Alfieri explained that he was called at 5:30 a.m. and quickly arrived at the Vatican. “When I entered his room, his eyes were open. He had no respiratory problems, but when I called his name, he did not respond. I knew there was nothing to be done - he was in a coma“, the doctor said.
The doctor added that his death came so quickly that it would have been impossible to save him even if they had moved him back to the hospital. "It was a stroke that took his life literally in an hour," Alfieri said.
Pope Francis, 88, was recovering from pneumonia when his death came as a big surprise. The day before the stroke, he appeared in St. Peter's Square in a popemobile to greet crowds, raising hopes that his condition was improving.
Doctors had recommended a two-month period of rest after his hospital stay, but the pope continued to carry out his duties, meeting with US Vice President J.D. Vance at Easter and visiting a prison in Rome.
"He was attentive to our advice and the work was part of his recovery. However, he was not in danger," Dr. Alfieri said. He added that he had last seen the pope on Saturday afternoon, when he was in good health and spirits.