Pope Francis’s doctor reveals his final regret before his death at 88

It is often said that the last moments reveal what is truly deep in one’s heart. In the silence of his final days, Pope Francis confided to his doctor a profoundly human regret, a simple but symbolic wish, which he was unable to fulfill. This moment, both tender and painful, offers a moving glimpse into the final thoughts of a man whose kindness left its mark on the Church and the entire world.
The last breath of a man of faith

On April 21, the Vatican was plunged into deep sadness: Pope Francis passed away peacefully at the age of 88, at his residence at Santa Marta. This death, although feared for several months, deeply affected believers and non-believers alike, as the figure of Jorge Mario Bergoglio had made such an impact with his humility and commitment.

The pontiff’s health had been weakening for several weeks. Hospitalized in February for bronchitis, he later developed double pneumonia. Despite five weeks of hospitalization and a discharge on March 23, he never fully recovered. Easter weekend was his last.

A brutal end, despite the desire to hold on until the end

It was on Monday night that the Pope’s condition deteriorated sharply. At 5:30 a.m., his medical assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, sounded the alarm. Dr. Sergio Alfieri, his personal physician, rushed over immediately. Upon arrival, Francis’s eyes were open but he remained mute, unresponsive to calls and gestures. An electrocardiogram soon afterward confirmed the diagnosis: a stroke, followed by a coma, then irreversible cardio-circulatory arrest.

Continued on the next page