The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88, following a health crisis that began in mid-February and began with bronchitis that developed into pneumonia in both lungs, a potentially lethal infection of the lung tissue.
However, on Saturday, February 22, the Pontiff suffered a prolonged asthma attack, which also required high-flow oxygen therapy. “Blood tests performed today also revealed thrombocytopenia [hematological problems], associated with anemia, which required a blood transfusion. The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is suffering more than yesterday. The prognosis is currently guarded,” the Holy See stated at the time.
This confirmed the previous version of the doctors treating Jorge Bergoglio at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, who had come out a day earlier to give the medical report in which the decline in the Pope’s health was already evident, since he arrived at the top of the Vatican on March 13, 2013.
Francis took his name from Saint Francis of Assisi and the Jesuit order from which he came, from which he was the first to ascend to the throne. He was also the first non-European pope in the history of the Catholic Church, following the resignation of Benedict XVI.
Francis dies: How will the new Pope be chosen?
Following the death of the Pope, the Vatican holds a conclave in the Sistine Chapel within the next 15 days following the death or resignation with its cardinals, who must be under 80 years of age to be eligible to succeed the previous Pope. The process is simple, but complex, as there must be a consensus among the approximately 120 cardinals gathered.
Once the majority chooses a name, white smoke will appear, signaling that there is a new leader in the Vatican. However, to reach this point, the cardinals go through several rounds of voting, which can be up to four per day. When there is no consensus, a “black smoke” is emitted until a consensus is reached.
