In his last moments, Pope Francis made a small but impactful parting gesture with his hand to the man who had supported him during his sickness.
Shortly before, he had uttered nine heartfelt words, which remain his final known words: “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square.” Massimiliano Strappetti, the nurse who had taken on a pivotal role in the Pope’s last years, was the recipient of those remarks.
Strappetti was more than just a caregiver; he was the one who once suggested colon surgery to save the Pope’s life. In 2022, Pope Francis named him his personal healthcare assistant in recognition of his steadfast commitment.
During the Pope’s last hospital stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and afterward at the Casa Santa Marta, where he kept 24-hour vigil, Strappetti stayed by his side.
Strappetti was present at the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter Sunday, which would be Pope Francis’ final public appearance. They had gone over the route he would take to reach St. Peter’s Basilica’s Central Loggia the day before.
Pope Francis had hoped to surprise the 50,000 faithful gathered in the St. Peter’s Square by riding in the popemobile after the blessing. However, he paused and asked his helper, “Do you think I can manage it?” to get advice.
Yes, he did. He went back to the square that Sunday, enjoying the crowd and giving the kids extra attention. It was his last ride in a popemobile and the first he had taken after being released from the hospital.
Turning to Strappetti, he murmured, “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square.” He was tired but satisfied. He then made clear how much he wanted to be near the people, which had been a guiding principle of his pontificate from the beginning.
He ate a peaceful meal and went to bed later that day. The following morning, around 5:30 a.m., he began to exhibit symptoms of an unexpected sickness. Pope Francis fell into a coma around an hour after the medical staff’s prompt response.
He gave Strappetti a final wave of his hand as he lay in bed on the second floor of Casa Santa Marta, just before he passed out.
Those who were there said he did not suffer. The abrupt and covert death was consistent with the Pope’s reticent attitude on his health.
Pope Francis has vowed to travel “together” with God’s people since his election on March 13, 2013. He fulfilled that vow with humility, kindness, and grace in his final hours.
It was determined that a stroke, followed by an irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse and coma, was the cause of death. The formal accreditation was given by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Vatican City State’s Directorate of Health and Hygiene.
The Pope had numerous bronchiectases, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and severe respiratory failure from multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, according to a report issued by the Holy See Press Office. Electrocardiographic thanatography proved his demise.
One of the last world leaders to meet with Pope Francis, Vice President JD Vance, exchanged three final words with the Pope during his recent journey to the Vatican. These statements now have more significance in light of the Pope’s passing.
On Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, Vance, a convert to Catholicism, met Pope Francis at the Domus Santa Marta in Vatican City. According to Vatican video footage, the Pope, seated in a wheelchair, seemed weak and could not be heard.
Vance leaned down and took the pontiff’s hand as he entered the chamber. “Hello,” he said. “So good to see you.” There was no audible response from the Pope. In his place, a priest who was serving as a translator spoke.
Still, Vance, visibly moved by the moment, offered words of comfort. “I know you’ve not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health,” he said.
Following a brief conversation and a picture of Vance standing to the Pope’s right, the vice president said, “God bless you.”
Vance’s final three words to Pope Francis were words of reverence, said just before the Pope’s death. The meeting was brief, but it was very important.
Pope Francis and Vance had openly clashed over issues like the deportation and immigration policy of the Trump administration. The Easter Sunday meeting was friendly and amicable despite their divergent ideologies.
The Vatican claims that the two men got together to welcome each other on Easter. Only seventeen minutes were spent on Vatican property by Vance’s motorcade. The meeting was confirmed by his office, but no other details were provided.
Vance met with top Vatican officials on Saturday, the day before their meeting, to talk with issues including immigration and international war, which dominated many of Pope Francis’ public remarks.
The Pope presented the vice president’s family with presents during the meeting. A priest gave Vance chocolate eggs and a platter filled with rosaries and a Vatican tie through his translator.
“These are for your children,” the priest said. Vance accepted the tie and replied, “Thank you. So beautiful.”
Following the meeting, the vice president went to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls for Easter mass with his family. They also went to see the apostle Paul’s tomb.
Following the Pope’s passing, Vance posted a tribute on X, expressing his sorrow and reflecting on the significance of their final meeting. “I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” he wrote.
The post continued, “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”
