Featured Image Credit: TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Pope Francis, World News, News
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Pope Francis, World News, News
On Monday of this week (21 April), the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had died at the age of 88.
It was previously revealed that the Bishop of Rome's cause of death was a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, prompting an outpouring of tributes across the globe as the nine days of mourning commence before a new successor is finally chosen to replace Francis.
And now, when describing his final hours, the Vatican has shared exactly what the late Pope's last known words were before dying on Easter Monday.
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Among his final words was a 'thank you' to his personal healthcare assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, for encouraging him to take one last ride in the popemobile on Sunday (20 April) after the Urbi et Orbi blessing.
While he may have initially had his reservations about making the appearance to the 50,000 faithful, once in St Peter's Square, he embraced the crowd.
"Do you think I can manage it?" he asked Strappetti, talking about his first ride after being discharged from Gemelli hospital as well as what would end up being the last outing of his life.
Vatican News reports that the the Pope, 'tired but content', then thanked Strappetti afterwards.
Francis' last words, an expression of gratitude, were as follows: "Thank you for bringing me back to the Square."
He spoke the words to Strappetti, 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 watched over Francis tirelessly throughout his illness, as well as before.
He stayed by the Pope's side during all 38 days of his hospitalisation the Rome's Gemelli Hospital in Rome and likewise kept watch round-the-clock during his recovery at the Casa Santa Marta.
Details of the late Pope Francis' funeral have been revealed with mass to take place at 10am local time this Saturday (26 April), celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals.
Until a successor is chosen, the Vatican will be in a transitional period and this is known as sede vacante, meaning vacant seat.
It is not yet clear who will now be announced as the next Bishop of Rome, with a voting process likely to last between 15 to 20 days in what is known as a papal conclave.