VATICAN CITY, Rome — Many Catholic Christians saw Pope Francis' final hours before his death as a beautiful opportunity for God's pastor to express his gratitude to the millions of faithful who prayed for his health and also the providence of having celebrated his last Easter Mass with the people he loved and cared for.
Returning to Saint Peter's Square in Rome, among the Pope's final words was a "thank you" to his personal healthcare assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, for encouraging him to take one last ride in the Pope mobile after his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message and blessing, in line with Church tradition.
He rested in the afternoon, had a quiet dinner and then at dawn suddenly fell ill and died.
"Thank you for bringing me back to the Square," the 88-year-old pontiff had turned to Strappetti after mingling with the huge crowd of 50, 000 that had gathered to greet him on Easter Sunday.
These heartfelt words reveal the deep desire of the Argentine Pope to be among the people of God, enjoying the human connection he made a hallmark of his papacy. His expression of gratitude was among his final words to the person who watched over him tirelessly throughout his illness, as well as before.
Francis spoke those words to his beloved nurse who, according to the Pope himself, once saved his life by suggesting colon surgery, and whom the Holy Father later appointed in 2022 as his personal healthcare assistant.
Strappetti had stayed by the Pope's side during all 38 days of his hospitalization at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli (Rome's Gemelli University Hospital), and keeping watch round-the-clock during his recovery at the Domus Sanctae Martha just adjacent to Saint Peter's Basilica.
The previous day, they had gone together to review the 'route' he would take the following day when he was to appear on the Central Loggia of the Basilica. He wanted to offer one last, meaningful surprise to his followers with a ride in the popemobile after the blessing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica façade.
However, Francis did hesitate a bit and asked the opinion of Mr. Strappetti, asking him, “Do you think I can manage it?” But once in St. Peter's Square, he embraced the crowd, especially the children, since this was his first ride after being discharged from Gemelli hospital, as well as the last outing among the faithful of his life.
It was around 5:30 in the early morning of the next day, April 21, that the first signs of the sudden illness appeared, prompting an immediate response from those keeping watch over him. Less than an hour later, after making a gesture of farewell with his hand to his faithful nurse while lying in bed in his second-floor apartment at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope fell into a coma.
According to Strappetti, who was with the pontiff with several others during his final moments, Francis did not suffer because his death all happened quickly.
The Vatican described it graphically: "His was a discreet death, almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm, for a Pope who was always very reserved about his health.
"The passing of Pope Francis came the day after Easter, when he was able to offer the city and the world his final Apostolic Blessing and embrace the faithful once more.
"It was exactly the people of God with whom, from the very first moments of his election on March 13, 2013, he had promised to walk 'together'.