{"id":11680,"date":"2025-04-24T23:36:22","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T23:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=11680"},"modified":"2025-04-24T23:36:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T23:36:22","slug":"inside-the-popes-final-moments-pontiffs-doctor-reveals-details-about-the-staffs-battle-to-revive-him-and-the-tragic-decision-to-honour-his-last-wish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=11680","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Pope\u2019s final moments: Pontiff\u2019s doctor reveals details about the staff\u2019s battle to revive him \u2013 and the tragic decision to honour his last wish"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The surgeon who was at\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">Pope Francis<\/span>\u2018s bedside when he died has revealed how the late pontiff approached his tragic last moments \u2013 and how doctors fulfilled one of his final wishes.<\/p><div class=\"cthmq69f5998456546\" ><div style=\"width:100%; max-width:1200px; margin:0 auto;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/bolt-casino.com?r=0BFDBF1283\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    <img \n      src=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f8693ebb-2018-480f-a2f7-0096810c07f0.jpg\" \n      alt=\"200% Deposit Bonus + 10% Cashback\" \n      style=\"width:100%; height:auto; display:block; border-radius:8px; cursor:pointer;\"\n    \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 1201px) {\r\n.cthmq69f5998456546 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) {\r\n.cthmq69f5998456546 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) {\r\n.cthmq69f5998456546 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) {\r\n.cthmq69f5998456546 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {\r\n.cthmq69f5998456546 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Sergio Alfieri, who performed two crucial operations on the Pope in 2021 and 2023, said he failed to respond to any stimuli from medical staff as he lay open-eyed in a coma shortly before his death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Alfieri, the Pope\u2019s chief surgeon who coordinated the Holy Father\u2019s doctors at the Gemelli hospital, said the late pontiff did not appear to have any breathing problems after he visited his Santa Marta residence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But the 88-year-old failed to answer when Alfieri called out to him and did not even respond to painful stimuli.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">It was at this point that the surgeon, who fulfilled one of Pope\u2019s final wishes in letting him die at home rather than the hospital, said there was \u2018nothing more to be done\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The revelations came as\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">tens of thousands of mourners flooded St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/span>\u00a0to pay their respects to the late pontiff ahead of this weekend\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Security measures have been heightened around the Vatican as police expect large crowds for the event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Reflecting back on the Pope\u2019s final days, Alfieri said he saw the late pontiff on Saturday afternoon in good spirits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Francis seemed \u2018very well\u2019 and seemed determined to carry out his papal duties less than 48 hours before his death, the surgeon said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He even asked the surgeon to organise a meeting with the 70 staff members who had treated him during his stay at the Rome hospital for Wednesday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-e4ea5f809bbc9528\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97633779-14642513-image-a-10_1745481890683.jpg\" alt=\"Sergio Alfieri, who coordinated the Holy Father's doctors at the Gemelli hospital, said he saw the late pontiff on Saturday afternoon in good spirits\" width=\"634\" height=\"513\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Sergio Alfieri, who coordinated the Holy Father\u2019s doctors at the Gemelli hospital, said he saw the late pontiff on Saturday afternoon in good spirits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-94425e5becc27ebd\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97633771-14642513-image-a-11_1745481898226.jpg\" alt=\"Francis even asked Alfieri to organise a meeting with the 70 staff members who had treated him during his stay at the Rome hospital for Wednesday\" width=\"634\" height=\"429\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Francis even asked Alfieri to organise a meeting with the 70 staff members who had treated him during his stay at the Rome hospital for Wednesday<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-8790ab23f06c3b45\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97633761-14642513-image-a-9_1745481886969.jpg\" alt=\"Early on Monday, however, the surgeon received a call from the Pope's personal nurse, who summoned medical figures back to Gemelli hospital\" width=\"634\" height=\"423\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Early on Monday, however, the surgeon received a call from the Pope\u2019s personal nurse, who summoned medical figures back to Gemelli hospital<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"moduleFull mol-video\">\n<div class=\"item\">\n<div id=\"v-2397102984896623846\" class=\"vjs-video-container vjs-fixed vjs-span-two-col news\">\n<div id=\"vjs_video_3\" class=\"video-js vjs-default-skin vjs-paused vjs-controls-enabled mol-empty-playlist mol-fe-animated-preview mol-fe-vjs-full-size-min vjs-visually-ready vjs-user-inactive\" data-opts=\"{&quot;linkBaseURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14642513\/pope-francis-final-moments-doctor-pontiff-wish.html#v-2397102984896623846&quot;,&quot;isMobile&quot;:false,&quot;original&quot;:false,&quot;duration&quot;:30000,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/video\/mol\/2025\/04\/22\/2397102984896623846\/1024x576_MP4_2397102984896623846.mp4&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;Other&quot;,&quot;playerId&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Pope Francis' body laid out in a coffin at the Chapel of Santa Maria&quot;,&quot;preload&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;initialVideo&quot;:true,&quot;thumbnail&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/22\/13\/97551961-0-image-a-25_1745323210195.jpg&quot;,&quot;poster&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/22\/13\/97551961-0-image-a-26_1745323210848.jpg&quot;,&quot;syndicationService&quot;:null,&quot;shortURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/mol.im\/a\/14642513#v-2397102984896623846&quot;,&quot;plugins&quot;:{&quot;social-share&quot;:{&quot;embedUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/embed\/video\/3419353.html&quot;},&quot;autoplay-next-video&quot;:{&quot;videos&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/api\/player\/3419353\/related-videos.json&quot;,&quot;countdown_time&quot;:10},&quot;ads-setup&quot;:{&quot;videoAdServerUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/ads?sz=[size]&amp;iu=%2F5765%2Fdm.video%2Fdm_video_news&amp;ciu_szs=&amp;impl=s&amp;gdfp_req=1&amp;env=vp&amp;output=xml_vast3&amp;unviewed_position_start=1&amp;url=[referrer_url]&amp;correlator=[timestamp]&quot;,&quot;adsEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;adsCancelTimeout&quot;:15000,&quot;screen&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:636,&quot;height&quot;:358}},&quot;sources&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/api\/player\/2397102984896623846\/video-sources.json&quot;},&quot;flyout&quot;:{&quot;viewportOffset&quot;:0.4,&quot;switchBack&quot;:true,&quot;forceFlyout&quot;:{&quot;active&quot;:false,&quot;muted&quot;:true,&quot;switchBack&quot;:false}},&quot;tracking&quot;:{&quot;channelShortName&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;sponsored&quot;:false,&quot;referenceId&quot;:3419353,&quot;trackingType&quot;:&quot;embedded&quot;},&quot;animated-preview&quot;:{&quot;displayName&quot;:null,&quot;frames&quot;:98,&quot;width&quot;:636,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/preview\/mol\/2025\/04\/22\/527890925816793484\/636x382_JPG-SINGLE_527890925816793484.jpg&quot;,&quot;fps&quot;:0,&quot;data-video&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/preview\/mol\/2025\/04\/22\/527890925816793484\/636x382_MP4_527890925816793484.mp4&quot;,&quot;data-frame-height&quot;:358,&quot;data-frame-width&quot;:636,&quot;height&quot;:358},&quot;related-videos&quot;:{&quot;videos&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/api\/player\/3419353\/related-videos.json&quot;,&quot;videoChannel&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;showUpNextPanel&quot;:false}},&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;2397102984896623846&quot;,&quot;descr&quot;:&quot;Pope Francis' body laid out in a coffin at the Chapel of Santa Maria. The rite confirming the Pope's death has begun. Cardinals are meeting at the Vatican to start planning the funeral and the elaborate rituals marking the end of the papacy and the start of another.&quot;,&quot;referenceId&quot;:3419353,&quot;grapeshot&quot;:{&quot;article&quot;:{&quot;articleURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14642513\/pope-francis-final-moments-doctor-pontiff-wish.html&quot;}}}\">\n<div class=\"vjs-title\">\n<div class=\"vjs-title-text\">\n<div>Pope Francis\u2019 body laid out in a coffin at the Chapel of Santa Maria<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Early on Monday, however, the surgeon received a call from the Pope\u2019s personal nurse,\u00a0Massimiliano Strappetti, who warned that the pontiff\u2019s condition was worsening and that he may need to return to Gemelli hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Alfieri arrived at\u00a0Casa Santa Marta, the spartan Vatican lodge Francis chose to live in for 12 years, 20 minutes later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The surgeon, who performed two crucial operations on Francis at Gemelli Hospital in July 2021 and June 2023, told Strappetti that the pontiff\u2019s time was likely coming to an end, however, and there was no need to transport him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018We risked letting him die during transport, I explained that hospitalisation would have been useless,\u2019 he told Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Strappetti knew that the Pope wanted to die at home, when we were at the Gemelli he always said so.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018He passed away shortly after.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018I remained there with Massimiliano, Andrea, the other nurses and the secretaries; then they all arrived and Cardinal Parolin asked us to pray and we recited the rosary with him. I felt privileged and now I can say that I was.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018That morning I gave him a caress as a last farewell.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">When Alfieri first entered the Pope\u2019s Santa Marta residence on Monday morning, he said it was \u2018difficult to think that he needed to be hospitalised\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Francis\u2019s eyes were open and he had no breathing problems, but the surgeon said that he was not responding to any stimuli.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He added: \u2018On Monday at about 5:30 Strappetti called me [saying]: \u201cThe Holy Father is very ill, we must return to Gemelli\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018I pre-alerted everyone and twenty minutes later I was there in Santa Marta.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018I entered his room and his eyes were open. I noticed that he had no breathing problems and then I tried to call him but he didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018He didn\u2019t respond to stimuli, not even painful ones. At that moment I understood that there was nothing more to be done. He was in a coma.\u2019<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-8e9f19367d74bb4c\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97633777-14642513-image-a-12_1745481934267.jpg\" alt=\"After being released from hospital, his final appearance in public came on Easter Sunday as he greeted thousands of people at St. Peter's Square in his popemobile\" width=\"634\" height=\"422\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">After being released from hospital, his final appearance in public came on Easter Sunday as he greeted thousands of people at St. Peter\u2019s Square in his popemobile<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-feb518ed096d2749\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97633775-14642513-image-a-13_1745481936990.jpg\" alt=\"In the weeks before his death, he told doctors he did not want artificial respiration\" width=\"634\" height=\"423\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">In the weeks before his death, he told doctors he did not want artificial respiration<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-3d2cdeed5cc0af3c\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97633783-14642513-image-a-14_1745481972116.jpg\" alt=\"When Alfieri first entered the Pope's Santa Marta residence on Monday morning, he said it was 'difficult to think that he needed to be hospitalised'\" width=\"634\" height=\"423\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">When Alfieri first entered the Pope\u2019s Santa Marta residence on Monday morning, he said it was \u2018difficult to think that he needed to be hospitalised\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"moduleFull mol-video\">\n<div class=\"item\">\n<div id=\"v-5450603054750873039\" class=\"vjs-video-container vjs-fixed vjs-span-two-col news\">\n<div id=\"vjs_video_401\" class=\"video-js vjs-default-skin vjs-paused vjs-controls-enabled mol-empty-playlist mol-fe-animated-preview mol-fe-vjs-full-size-min vjs-visually-ready vjs-user-inactive\" data-opts=\"{&quot;linkBaseURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14642513\/pope-francis-final-moments-doctor-pontiff-wish.html#v-5450603054750873039&quot;,&quot;isMobile&quot;:false,&quot;original&quot;:false,&quot;duration&quot;:57000,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/video\/mol\/2025\/04\/23\/5450603054750873039\/1024x576_MP4_5450603054750873039.mp4&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;Reuters&quot;,&quot;playerId&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Huge crowds gather to file past the body of Pope Francis&quot;,&quot;preload&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;initialVideo&quot;:true,&quot;thumbnail&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/23\/09\/97587745-0-image-a-11_1745396387439.jpg&quot;,&quot;poster&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/23\/09\/97587745-0-image-a-8_1745396385640.jpg&quot;,&quot;syndicationService&quot;:null,&quot;shortURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/mol.im\/a\/14642513#v-5450603054750873039&quot;,&quot;plugins&quot;:{&quot;social-share&quot;:{&quot;embedUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/embed\/video\/3420155.html&quot;},&quot;autoplay-next-video&quot;:{&quot;videos&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/api\/player\/3420155\/related-videos.json&quot;,&quot;countdown_time&quot;:10},&quot;ads-setup&quot;:{&quot;videoAdServerUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/ads?sz=[size]&amp;iu=%2F5765%2Fdm.video%2Fdm_video_news&amp;ciu_szs=&amp;impl=s&amp;gdfp_req=1&amp;env=vp&amp;output=xml_vast3&amp;unviewed_position_start=1&amp;url=[referrer_url]&amp;correlator=[timestamp]&quot;,&quot;adsEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;adsCancelTimeout&quot;:15000,&quot;screen&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:636,&quot;height&quot;:358}},&quot;sources&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/api\/player\/5450603054750873039\/video-sources.json&quot;},&quot;flyout&quot;:{&quot;viewportOffset&quot;:0.4,&quot;switchBack&quot;:true,&quot;forceFlyout&quot;:{&quot;active&quot;:false,&quot;muted&quot;:true,&quot;switchBack&quot;:false}},&quot;tracking&quot;:{&quot;channelShortName&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;sponsored&quot;:false,&quot;referenceId&quot;:3420155,&quot;trackingType&quot;:&quot;embedded&quot;},&quot;animated-preview&quot;:{&quot;displayName&quot;:null,&quot;frames&quot;:124,&quot;width&quot;:636,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/preview\/mol\/2025\/04\/23\/6767164100711761456\/636x382_JPG-SINGLE_6767164100711761456.jpg&quot;,&quot;fps&quot;:0,&quot;data-video&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/preview\/mol\/2025\/04\/23\/6767164100711761456\/636x382_MP4_6767164100711761456.mp4&quot;,&quot;data-frame-height&quot;:358,&quot;data-frame-width&quot;:636,&quot;height&quot;:358},&quot;related-videos&quot;:{&quot;videos&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/api\/player\/3420155\/related-videos.json&quot;,&quot;videoChannel&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;showUpNextPanel&quot;:false}},&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;5450603054750873039&quot;,&quot;descr&quot;:&quot;Thousands of mourners are expected to file past the body of the late Pope Francis as his official lying in state begins in the Vatican today. For the next three days St Peter's Basilica will open at 7am each morning and close at midnight to allow as many people as possible to file past.&quot;,&quot;referenceId&quot;:3420155,&quot;grapeshot&quot;:{&quot;article&quot;:{&quot;articleURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14642513\/pope-francis-final-moments-doctor-pontiff-wish.html&quot;}}}\">\n<div class=\"vjs-title\">\n<div class=\"vjs-title-text\">\n<div>Huge crowds gather to file past the body of Pope Francis<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Transporting Francis to Gemelli hospital wouldn\u2019t have improved his chances of survival, he claimed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Even doing a CT scan would have given us a more precise diagnosis, but nothing more,\u2019 Alfieri told Italian newspaper La Repubblica.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018It was one of those\u00a0strokes that take you away in an hour.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The late Pope was admitted to hospital on February 14 this year and was subsequently diagnosed with double pneumonia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He was released just over a month later and started to make public appearances, including his final one on Easter Sunday as he greeted thousands of people at St. Peter\u2019s Square in his popemobile.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In the weeks before his death, he told doctors he did not want artificial respiration, which could have prolonged his life by a few days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">On the morning he suffered a stroke, the medical staff present at the Pope\u2019s bedside noticed something was wrong as soon as he woke up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018At 5am, the Holy Father woke up to drink a glass of water,\u2019 Alfieri told La Repubblica.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018He rolled onto his side and the nurse noticed that something was wrong.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018He was struggling to react. The Vatican doctor on duty for resuscitation was called. They called me around 5:30 a.m. and I was on the scene within fifteen minutes. I found him with oxygen and an infusion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018I listened to his lungs, which were clean, without rattling. His eyes were open, but he wasn\u2019t responding to questions or to the pain of the pinches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018He was already in a coma. His pulse was slowing and his breathing was becoming more and more shallow.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He died at 7.35am local time on Monday, just over two hours after Alfieri received the worrying phone call from Strappetti.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018He died without suffering, and at home,\u2019 Alfieri added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018At the Gemelli he didn\u2019t say: I want to go back to Santa Marta. He said: \u201cI want to go home.\u201d\u2018<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The surgeon claimed that Francis had not trusted his medical team \u2018much\u2019 in the past but in \u2018got closer\u2019 to them again in his final days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Just days before the pontiff\u2019s death, the ailing pope told reporters he was \u2018living it as best I can\u2019 after he was plagued with health issues and reduced mobility caused in part by his advancing years and expanding waistline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The pontiff had kept up a busy schedule until his final weeks. In September 2024, he carried out a 12-day tour across south-east Asia and Oceania that included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Despite being told to rest for two months after being discharged from hospital, he wanted to thank all 70 staff that supported him at the facility in person.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-dd5882c62bc2f357\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97554723-14642513-image-a-15_1745482004337.jpg\" alt=\"He died at 7.35am local time on Monday, just over two hours after Alfieri received the worrying phone call from Strappetti\" width=\"634\" height=\"423\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">He died at 7.35am local time on Monday, just over two hours after Alfieri received the worrying phone call from Strappetti<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-82a99d81b8a582d4\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97554591-14642513-image-a-16_1745482069065.jpg\" alt=\"Just days before the pontiff's death, the ailing pope told reporters he was 'living it as best I can' after he was plagued with health issues\" width=\"634\" height=\"423\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Just days before the pontiff\u2019s death, the ailing pope told reporters he was \u2018living it as best I can\u2019 after he was plagued with health issues<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"moduleFull mol-video\">\n<div class=\"item\">\n<div id=\"v-656226865882445762\" class=\"vjs-video-container vjs-fixed vjs-span-two-col news\">\n<div id=\"vjs_video_744\" class=\"video-js vjs-default-skin vjs-paused vjs-controls-enabled mol-empty-playlist mol-fe-animated-preview mol-fe-vjs-full-size-min vjs-visually-ready vjs-user-inactive\" data-opts=\"{&quot;linkBaseURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14642513\/pope-francis-final-moments-doctor-pontiff-wish.html#v-656226865882445762&quot;,&quot;isMobile&quot;:false,&quot;original&quot;:false,&quot;duration&quot;:69000,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/video\/mol\/2025\/04\/21\/656226865882445762\/1024x576_MP4_656226865882445762.mp4&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;Other&quot;,&quot;playerId&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;World waits to see who will succeed Pope Francis as Pontiff dies age 88&quot;,&quot;preload&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;initialVideo&quot;:true,&quot;thumbnail&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/21\/16\/97519757-0-image-a-1_1745249426243.jpg&quot;,&quot;poster&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/21\/16\/97519757-0-image-a-2_1745249427009.jpg&quot;,&quot;syndicationService&quot;:null,&quot;shortURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/mol.im\/a\/14642513#v-656226865882445762&quot;,&quot;plugins&quot;:{&quot;social-share&quot;:{&quot;embedUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/embed\/video\/3418911.html&quot;},&quot;autoplay-next-video&quot;:{&quot;videos&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/api\/player\/3418911\/related-videos.json&quot;,&quot;countdown_time&quot;:10},&quot;ads-setup&quot;:{&quot;videoAdServerUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/ads?sz=[size]&amp;iu=%2F5765%2Fdm.video%2Fdm_video_news&amp;ciu_szs=&amp;impl=s&amp;gdfp_req=1&amp;env=vp&amp;output=xml_vast3&amp;unviewed_position_start=1&amp;url=[referrer_url]&amp;correlator=[timestamp]&quot;,&quot;adsEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;adsCancelTimeout&quot;:15000,&quot;screen&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:636,&quot;height&quot;:358}},&quot;sources&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/api\/player\/656226865882445762\/video-sources.json&quot;},&quot;flyout&quot;:{&quot;viewportOffset&quot;:0.4,&quot;switchBack&quot;:true,&quot;forceFlyout&quot;:{&quot;active&quot;:false,&quot;muted&quot;:true,&quot;switchBack&quot;:false}},&quot;tracking&quot;:{&quot;channelShortName&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;sponsored&quot;:false,&quot;referenceId&quot;:3418911,&quot;trackingType&quot;:&quot;embedded&quot;},&quot;animated-preview&quot;:{&quot;displayName&quot;:null,&quot;frames&quot;:77,&quot;width&quot;:636,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/preview\/mol\/2025\/04\/21\/5167555612670053227\/636x382_JPG-SINGLE_5167555612670053227.jpg&quot;,&quot;fps&quot;:0,&quot;data-video&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/preview\/mol\/2025\/04\/21\/5167555612670053227\/636x382_MP4_5167555612670053227.mp4&quot;,&quot;data-frame-height&quot;:358,&quot;data-frame-width&quot;:636,&quot;height&quot;:358},&quot;related-videos&quot;:{&quot;videos&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/api\/player\/3418911\/related-videos.json&quot;,&quot;videoChannel&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;showUpNextPanel&quot;:false}},&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;656226865882445762&quot;,&quot;descr&quot;:&quot;World waits to see who will succeed Pope Francis as Pontiff dies age 88. Among the contenders are Peter Turkson, who could be the first black pope, Luis Antonio Tagle, who could be the first asian pope, and Jose Tolentino, who is considered the relative youth in the running.&quot;,&quot;referenceId&quot;:3418911,&quot;grapeshot&quot;:{&quot;article&quot;:{&quot;articleURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14642513\/pope-francis-final-moments-doctor-pontiff-wish.html&quot;}}}\">\n<div class=\"vjs-title\">\n<div class=\"vjs-title-text\">\n<div>World waits to see who will succeed Pope Francis as Pontiff dies age 88<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But his recovery after being released was unstable, with doctors fearing that his end was nearing on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Alfieri said that on one instance, the pontiff \u2018surprised everyone\u2019 by making it through\u00a0 a particularly bad night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He suggested that Francis behaved as if he had a clear purpose as he approached his death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He said: \u2018Going back to work was part of the therapy and he never exposed himself to danger.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018It\u2019s as if, approaching the end, he decided to do everything he had to.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018I have the clear feeling that he felt he had to do a series of things before dying.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">This included one last ride in the popemobile to greet worshippers on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Do you think I can manage it?\u2019 he had asked his personal nurse before taking the plunge, according to the Vatican News, the Holy See\u2019s media outlet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Strappetti, whom he had previously credited for saving his life, reassured him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Francis then spent about 15 minutes waving at the crowd and blessing babies from his popemobile, flanked by numerous bodyguards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In what were some of his final words,\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">he told his personal nurse afterwards: \u2018Thank you for bringing me back to the square.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The day before, Alfieri said, the Pope looked \u2018very well\u2019 as he brought him his favourite pie.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He recounted the pontiff saying: \u2018I am very well, I have started working again, and I like it.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He regretted not to have been able to wash the feet of prison inmates he met in Rome four days before he passed away.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018This time, I didn\u2019t manage to do it,\u2019 the pontiff reportedly said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-f4bc5235d9b75f5f\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97555781-14642513-image-a-17_1745482094852.jpg\" alt=\"Alfieri also revealed one of Francis's last wishes was to 'take care of the abandoned embryos'\" width=\"634\" height=\"422\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Alfieri also revealed one of Francis\u2019s last wishes was to \u2018take care of the abandoned embryos\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-5c90700e7952f033\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/09\/97553193-14642513-image-a-18_1745482138138.jpg\" alt=\"Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, pictured lying in a wooden coffin dressed in red, with rosary beads draped across his hands\" width=\"634\" height=\"423\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, pictured lying in a wooden coffin dressed in red, with rosary beads draped across his hands<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Alfieri also revealed one of Francis\u2019s last wishes was to \u2018take care of the abandoned embryos\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Throughout his tenure, the late pontiff said that\u00a0there is no outcome that can justify the use or destruction of embryos for scientific purposes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In 2017, he said: \u2018No ends, even noble in themselves, such as a predicted utility for science, for other human beings or for society, can justify the destruction of human embryos.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He reaffirmed this in January, according to Alfieri.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018He was clear: \u201cThey are life, we cannot allow them to be used for experimentation or to be lost. It would be murder,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018We were evaluating, also with the Ministry of Health, among the various options, how to release them for adoption but there was no time for the Pope to make his decision effective.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018My commitment now will be, if the conditions are right, to make this wish come true.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He said he will raise the issue with Italian Minister of Health\u00a0Orazio Schillaci.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Tens of thousands of mourners are queuing around the clock to pay respects to Pope Francis after the Vatican abandoned its plan to close St. Peter\u2019s Basilica overnight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Huge crowds thronged St Peter\u2019s Square in Vatican City, queuing for hours to see the late pontiff in his open coffin ahead of his funeral this weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Waves of mourners stood patiently in line after Francis\u2019s remains were transferred to St Peter\u2019s Basilica yesterday, with the queue snaking its way through the square to the Holy Door of the building.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Almost 50,000 people have flooded the basilica \u2018to pay homage to Pope Francis\u2019 since he was laid out yesterday in an open coffin ahead of his funeral on Saturday, Vatican media said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-758a19f16cc11de1\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/11\/97637663-14642513-image-a-25_1745489329209.jpg\" alt=\"Huge crowds thronged St Peter's Square in Vatican City, queuing for hours to see the late pontiff in his open coffin ahead of his funeral this weekend\" width=\"634\" height=\"423\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Huge crowds thronged St Peter\u2019s Square in Vatican City, queuing for hours to see the late pontiff in his open coffin ahead of his funeral this weekend<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-d59b1b9cf7866c3c\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/11\/97637667-14642513-image-a-26_1745489338755.jpg\" alt=\"Almost 50,000 people have flooded the basilica 'to pay homage to Pope Francis' since he was laid out yesterday in an open coffin ahead of his funeral on Saturday\" width=\"634\" height=\"423\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"imageCount-fAPp8\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Almost 50,000 people have flooded the basilica \u2018to pay homage to Pope Francis\u2019 since he was laid out yesterday in an open coffin ahead of his funeral on Saturday<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was among those who paid their respects to Francis yesterday, with photographs showing how she solemnly approached his casket just hours after having praised him during her address to Parliament.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Meloni celebrated Francis\u2019 ability to talk freely with anyone, despite his exalted position, praised his fortitude and courage to \u2018go against the current\u2019, and shared with lawmakers some personal advice he gave her: \u2018Never lose your sense of humour.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018With him you were at ease, you could open up, without filters, without fear of being judged,\u2019 she added. \u2018He could see your soul, lay it bare.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">While it had been expected that St, Peter\u2019s would close at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, it remained open throughout the night to allow more people to pay their respects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">By late yesterday evening, the wait appeared to be three or four hours and growing. An official doing crowd management estimated that the wait was closer to five hours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Some of those present have sparked fury, however,\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">after taking selfies next to the late pontiff\u2019s open casket<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">On Instagram, one image saw a woman smiling at the camera as she displayed the Pope clutching his rosary around 10ft behind her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Official images of first day from the lying-in-state showed swarms of people surrounding the simple coffin holding their phones in the air above their heads.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A sea of screens was seen floating around the Pope\u2019s body, and some even extended selfie sticks in a bid to capture the best shot.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-1ffb0d5e2e915fae\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/11\/97637611-14642513-On_Instagram_one_image_saw_a_woman_smiling_at_the_camera_as_she_-a-28_1745491719312.jpg\" alt=\"On Instagram, one image saw a woman smiling at the camera as she displayed the Pope clutching his rosary around 10ft behind her\" width=\"634\" height=\"1128\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">On Instagram, one image saw a woman smiling at the camera as she displayed the Pope clutching his rosary around 10ft behind her<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-a683262a4780a493\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/11\/97637609-14642513-image-a-23_1745489266715.jpg\" alt=\"Official images of first day from the lying-in-state showed swarms of people surrounding the simple coffin holding their phones in the air above their heads\" width=\"634\" height=\"353\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Official images of first day from the lying-in-state showed swarms of people surrounding the simple coffin holding their phones in the air above their heads<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-7cf2362a15527c5a\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/24\/11\/97637613-14642513-image-a-24_1745489282326.jpg\" alt=\"A Vatican source said: 'It would be good if people could try and remember where they are and have a little respect'\" width=\"634\" height=\"933\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">A Vatican source said: \u2018It would be good if people could try and remember where they are and have a little respect\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A Vatican source said: \u2018It would be good if people could try and remember where they are and have a little respect but there\u2019s little else that can be done.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Large crowds are expected for Saturday\u2019s funeral in St Peter\u2019s Square, with the Prince of Wales, a future head of the Church of England, confirmed to be attending on the King\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will also be there, alongside other global leaders and dignitaries including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Irish premier Micheal Martin and Irish President Michael D Higgins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In accordance with the late pope\u2019s wishes, Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, breaking with the tradition of papal burials in St Peter\u2019s Basilica.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The surgeon who was at\u00a0Pope Francis\u2018s bedside when he died has revealed how the late pontiff approached his tragic last moments \u2013 and how doctors fulfilled one of his final wishes. Sergio Alfieri, who performed two crucial operations on the Pope in 2021 and 2023, said he failed to respond to any stimuli from medical&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11681,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Inside the Pope\u2019s final moments: Pontiff\u2019s doctor reveals details about the staff\u2019s battle to revive him \u2013 and the tragic decision to honour his last wish - VM News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=11680\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Inside the Pope\u2019s final moments: Pontiff\u2019s doctor reveals details about the staff\u2019s battle to revive him \u2013 and the tragic decision to honour his last wish - VM News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The surgeon who was at\u00a0Pope Francis\u2018s bedside when he died has revealed how the late pontiff approached his tragic last moments \u2013 and how doctors fulfilled one of his final wishes. 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