Stroke, Heart Failure Revealed as Pope’s Cause of Death

A rosary service was held in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

Westminster Cathedral marks the death of Pope Francis in London, England, on April 21, 2025. Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images

The Vatican revealed on April 21 that Pope Francis suffered a stroke, which led to a coma and then irreversible heart failure.

He died at 7:35 a.m. that same day in his apartment at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. He was 88 years old.