Pope Francis Dies Of Stroke And Heart Failure

The world is mourning the death of Pope Francis, who quietly passed away in his Vatican residence early Monday morning , surrounded by the silence of Santa Marta.

At 88, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church succumbed to a cerebral stroke that triggered a deep coma, followed by complete cardiac failure, according to his death certificate signed by Vatican health chief Andrea Arcangeli, as reported by Al Jazeera . The document listed several previously undisclosed health conditions, including arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and a chronic lung condition known as bronchiectasis - shedding new light on the pontiff's deteriorating health.

Just hours before his passing, Francis had appeared before thousands of faithful for Easter Sunday, riding through St Peter's Square in his open-top vehicle and offering his traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing - delivered via an aide due to his frail state.

Behind the scenes, however, the pope's health had taken a dramatic turn for the worse in recent weeks. He had spent over a month in Gemelli University Hospital in Rome earlier this year battling double pneumonia. Sources close to the Vatican said that despite medical efforts, his condition never fully stabilised.

His death has plunged the Vatican into its traditional mourning phase, known as the Novendiale - a nine-day period marked by solemn rituals, daily Masses, and vigils. On Monday evening, crowds gathered in the fading Roman light for the first official rosary, led by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti. In a moving moment, Sister Raffaella Petrini - one of the highest-ranking women in the Church and a figure championed by Francis for her leadership role - offered the first reading.