Vatican City (CNS) – The last moments of Pope Francis were peaceful, and he managed to make a last farewell to his nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, before slipping into a coma in early April, reported the Vatican News.
Among his last words were his thanks to Strapepetti at the end of April 20 when he said: “Thank you for bringing me back to the place”, referring to the surprise appearance of the Pope after giving his Easter blessing of the central balcony of the Saint-Pierre basilica.
The 88 -year -old pope, who was still recovering from pneumonia, did not attend the Easter mass on April 20, but he appeared shortly afternoon to give the solemn blessing. With his still weak voice, he wanted everyone a happy Easter and barely raised his arms when he made the sign of the cross.
“The Pope wanted to make a final significant surprise by going to Saint-Pierre square for a tour in the Popemobile,” said Vatican News in a report on April 22. However, the pope was a little uncertain and asked Strapepetti, “do you think I can do it?”
The nurse, who had been by his side during the 38 days when he was hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, then by his 24/7 bedside at the Pope’s residence in the Domus Sancntae Marthae since his return on March 23, reassured him that he could, reported the Vatican News.
For 15 minutes, Pope Francis rolled around Saint-Pierre and part of the large boulevard leading instead, filled with around 50,000 people. He blessed some babies and tried to greet; The crowd was delighted, waving and running as far as possible to have a narrower view.
Even if the pope made a certain number of surprise appearances in his wheelchair in the Basilica Saint-Pierre after being released from the hospital and he appeared briefly in his place in his wheelchair at the end of the closing mass of the Jubilee of the Workers of the Disease and Health on April 6 and in Palm on Sunday April 13, Easter marked his first open trip from the Popemobile in December.
The Vatican News reported that the Pope had returned to his residence on April 20 “tired, but happy” and he thanked Straptti for having brought me back to the square “. The Pope hired him to be his personal nurse in 2022.
The pope then rested this afternoon and had a relaxing dinner, said Vatican News.
The first signs that something was wrong with happening the next day around 5.30 am, followed by “rapid intervention by those who watch over him,” he said.
More than an hour later, the Pope, who was lying on his bed in his apartment, beckoned to say goodbye to Strapetti and slipped into a coma, he said.
“He did not suffer, everything happened quickly,” according to those who were with the pope in the latter moments, reported the Vatican News.
The Pope died at 7:35 a.m. from a stroke, coma and heart failure, said the Vatican.
