Cliff Notes
- Pope Francis died at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke that led to irreversible heart failure, with his condition worsening rapidly within hours of being taken ill.
- His funeral will take place outside St Peter’s Basilica, attended by dignitaries including Prince William, and he will be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, marking a departure from tradition.
- Unlike previous popes, Francis will be interred in a simple wooden casket rather than the customary three-tiered caskets, reflecting his wishes.
Pope Francis’s final moments reveal how quickly he deteriorated before death
Pope Francis died little more than half an hour after being taken ill, Vatican sources have told Sky News.
Pope Francis woke at 6am on Monday, and was fine for at least an hour, sources said, as they revealed details of the pontiff’s final moments.
Around 7am, the Vatican’s medical unit received an emergency call from his Casa Santa Marta apartment.