Hours before his death, Francis — head of the Catholic Church for 12 years — delivered his yearly blessing for Easter as well as an address through Cardinal Angelo Comastri, who led Mass at Saint Peter’s Square.

The Vatican said the cause of death was a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. Francis had chronic lung disease, and he was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.