On Monday, April 21, Pope Francis was discovered by his doctor with his eyes open and breathing normally, yet he was unresponsive, according to reports from the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
Known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio before becoming Pope, Francis had been battling ill health in the months preceding his death at 88.
In February, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church was taken to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after developing a respiratory infection, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia in both lungs, and mild kidney failure.
The Vatican announced his death earlier this week.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri managed the pontiff’s five-week hospital care and continued to oversee his treatment after Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on March 23 for a two-month recovery period.
At 5:30 am on Monday, April 21, Dr. Alfieri was notified by Francis’s health care assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, of the pope’s condition and the need for hospital intervention.
Dr. Alfieri reported to Corriere that he arrived within 20 minutes.
He stated, “I went into his room, and he had his eyes open. I noted that he did not have respiratory issues, so I tried to call him but he did not respond,” adding that the pope was unresponsive to any stimuli. “In that moment, I understood there was nothing more to do. He was in a coma.”
Transporting the pope back to Gemelli hospital was deemed too risky by Dr. Alfieri, who had previously treated him for a severe respiratory infection.
“The pope wanted to die at home, he always said it while he was at Gemelli,” Dr. Alfieri explained.
Pope Francis succumbed to a stroke two hours later.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin arrived to pray the rosary over the pope’s body, joined by the papal household staff, as recounted by Dr. Alfieri to the Milan daily.
“I gave him a caress, as a farewell,” the doctor shared.
Vatican News reported that before becoming unwell, Pope Francis managed a parting gesture to Mr. Strappetti and appeared not to have suffered, according to those present at the time.
The funeral for Francis is set for Saturday, April 26, and will be broadcasted worldwide.
In his final wishes, Pope Francis requested that his tombstone omit any mention of his 12-year tenure as the leader of the Catholic Church, a departure from tradition.