Seconds before he slipped into a coma, Pope Francis raised his frail hand from the bed he lay dying and made a loving “gesture of farewell” to his trusted nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti. Only one hour later, the pontiff died, shattering millions of hearts around the world.
Less than one month ago, when Pope Francis was battling double pneumonia, his nurse Massimiliano Strappetti “watched over him tirelessly throughout his illness,” never leaving his side “during all 38 days of his hospitalization at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital,” according to the Vatican News, the Holy See’s media outlet.
Strappetti kept “watch round-the-clock during his recovery at the Casa Santa Marta,” and he was also with the Argentine Pontiff, who made a surprise Popemobile tour through the Piazza, waving at the 50,000 worshippers who gathered at St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.
The Vatican explains that the “Pope wanted to offer one last, meaningful surprise,” but given his weakness, there was some hesitation.
Do you think I can manage it?” he asked looking for reassurance from Strappetti, who was appointed in 2022 as his personal healthcare assistant.
Greets crowds
And though he was weak and appeared exhausted, the pontiff spent about 15 minutes embracing the loving, cheering crowds from his open-air popemobile – the first ride since he left hospital.
Wrapped in a simple white coat and smiling warmly, the pontiff greeted onlookers, children waved flags, and some even shed tears at the sight of their spiritual leader, back in action.
While he did not lead the mass himself, Pope Francis’ decision to delegate the responsibility to Cardinal Angelo Comastri highlighted an often-overlooked strength in leadership: knowing when to rest and let others rise. It was not a retreat but a conscious act of preservation – one that showcased the depth of his humility and strategic wisdom.
‘Thank you’
Afterwards, the Pope – “tired but content,” Vatican News reports – thanked Strappetti for encouraging his visit at St. Peter’s Square.
“Thank you for bringing me back to the Square,” he told Strappetti.
After blessing thousands at the square, the pontiff spent the afternoon resting, enjoying a calm and private dinner, surrounded by the stillness he often cherished.
But as dawn crept over the Vatican, a shift occurred.
Final farewell
At approximately 5:30 AM, the first signs of illness became evident. The response from those watching over him was swift and filled with concern. In those early, sacred hours, something had changed.
Just an hour later, before falling into a coma, Pope Francis, from his bed on the second floor of Casa Santa Marta, raised his hand in a gentle gesture of farewell to his trusted aide and friend, Strappetti.
After an hour Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m.
“According to those who were with him in his final moments, he did not suffer. It all happened quickly,” writes the Vatican News. “His was a discreet death, almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm, for a Pope who was always very reserved about his health.”
As the world mourns, we also remember that Pope Francis showed us how to live with kindness – and now, how to say goodbye with grace.
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