Pope Francis’ Cause of Death Confirmed by Vatican: Stroke and Cardiac Arrest at 88

Pope Francis, age 88, has died from a stroke and cardiac arrest, as revealed by an official statement from the Vatican on Easter Monday. The announcement was made at his residence in the Chapel of St. Martha, closing a chapter on a papacy marked by both health struggles and headline-grabbing reforms.

Reports indicate that the Pope suffered a stroke in the early hours of April 21, fell into a coma, and then succumbed to a heart attack. This came after years of public health concerns, including a recent hospitalization for double pneumonia. Despite these ongoing health issues, the sudden stroke caught many of his followers off guard.

The Pope led the Catholic Church for 12 years, making waves with his advocacy for migrant rights, climate action, and LGBTQ inclusion. Remarkably, he met with Vice President JD Vance just one day before his passing, showing he was dedicated to his role until the very end.

While his recent bout with pneumonia had raised alarms, it was ultimately a stroke that led to his demise, reminding us all how unpredictable health can be—even for the most watched figures in the world.

For some context, strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of disability, according to the American Stroke Association. Dr. Sandeep Kumar, a neurologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, explains that strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. This can happen through either a blockage (ischemic stroke, the most common type) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).

With the Pope’s passing, the world loses a leader who wasn’t afraid to challenge traditions—and who, frankly, powered through more health scares than most reality TV stars.