section_path: Last days and death/Death
section_name: Death
paragraph_text: Death
  
  Francis's health began a sudden deterioration at 05:30 CEST on the morning of 21 April (Easter Monday), during which he made a final farewell gesture toward his nurse and lost consciousness. His physician, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, was immediately summoned. He found the pope, eyes opened and breathing normally but unresponsive to stimuli. A severe stroke was quickly diagnosed. After brief discussion, it was decided against transporting Francis to the hospital, as it was believed that the pope's condition was fatal and nothing further could be done. There was no sign of physical suffering.
  
  He died at 07:35, at his residence in Vatican City, aged 88. His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo, in a statement broadcast on Vatican Media from the chapel of the papal residence at Domus Sanctae Marthae. A death certificate released by the Vatican later that day confirmed that Francis had died of a stroke, which led to a coma and irreversible cardiac arrest. His death certificate also noted that he was suffering from type 2 diabetes and hypertension. On 22 April, the Vatican released the first images of Pope Francis lying in state at the Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel, wearing his papal mitre, a pallium, red vestments, and his regular black shoes. Carmela "Carmelina" Mancuso was the only layperson who was allowed to present her respects to the pontiff while he remained in the chapel.
  
  The Papal apartments at the Apostolic Palace, and the personal apartment of Pope Francis at Domus Sanctae Marthae, were later sealed by the Cardinal Camerlengo.
  
  Following his death, Francis's spiritual testament, dated 29 June 2022, was released, revealing his wish to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, specifically "in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica." His statement ended: "May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples."
  
  Sixty cardinals held an organizational meeting on 22 April. On 23 April at 09:00, Francis' remains were moved from Domus Sanctae Marthae to St. Peter's Basilica to lie in state for a three-day public viewing which occurred from 11:00 at the same date until 19:00 on 25 April. Over 19,000 people came to view Francis within the first eight and a half hours of his lying in state, with queues reaching up to Via della Conciliazione. By that evening, the number of attendees had reached 90,000, prompting officials to shorten closing time to 1.5 hours for cleaning on the morning of 24 April and open the basilica all night afterwards. By 25 April, the number had reached more than 250,000. French-Argentine nun Geneviève Jeanningros, a personal friend of Pope Francis, was let unusually close to his coffin to pay her respects.
  
  On 28 April, one week after his death, it was confirmed that the 2025 papal conclave to elect Francis's successor would convene on 7 May. On 8 May 2025, Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Francis's successor after four rounds of voting, taking the papal name Pope Leo XIV.