{"id":42132,"date":"2025-04-22T21:42:15","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T21:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/42132\/"},"modified":"2025-04-22T21:42:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T21:42:15","slug":"pope-francis-emotional-final-words-to-nurse-revealed-as-thousands-flock-to-vatican-to-file-past-his-open-coffin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/42132\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Francis’ emotional final words to nurse revealed as thousands flock to Vatican to file past his open coffin"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE Pope\u2019s last words included thanks to his nurse for encouraging him to greet the crowds in St Peter\u2019s Square one last time, the Vatican has said.<\/p>\n

And the ailing pontiff asked the medic \u201cDo you think I can manage it?\u201d before Easter Sunday<\/a>\u2019s Popemobile ride<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The body of Pope Francis is placed in an open casket at the VaticanCredit: Reuters\"Pope<\/a><\/p>\n

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The late Pope’s last words included thanks to his nurse for encouraging him to greet the crowds in St Peter\u2019s Square one last timeCredit: Getty\"Pope<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pope Francis delivers his final blessing at the balcony on Easter SundayCredit: Getty\"Illustration<\/a><\/p>\n

He had told personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti<\/a> \u201cThank you for bringing me back to the square\u201d just hours before he died on Monday morning<\/a>, aged 88.<\/p>\n

Francis, who had recently been in hospital for weeks<\/a> with breathing problems<\/a>, died of a stroke<\/a> and coronary failure. <\/p>\n

He will lie in state from today at St Peter\u2019s Basilica in the heart of the Vatican<\/a>, where hundreds of thousands of mourners<\/a> are expected to file past his coffin to pay their last respects.<\/p>\n

But his final wishes \u2014 handed to Vatican aides in his last days \u2014 dispense with the grand catafalque platform previously used, in favour of a simple wooden open coffin.<\/p>\n

Huge queues began forming yesterday to view his embalmed body.<\/p>\n

The Vatican confirmed the Holy Father\u2019s funeral<\/a> plan yesterday after releasing the first pictures of him laid out at a traditional ceremony.<\/p>\n

It took place on Monday night, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican\u2019s most senior cardinal, reading the official declaration of death aloud.<\/p>\n

Francis\u2019 body was placed in an open wooden casket in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta residence. <\/p>\n

Official pictures show him lying peacefully<\/a>, dressed in red robes, wearing the papal mitre and holding a rosary while flanked by Swiss Guards in ceremonial dress.<\/p>\n

His apartment has been formally sealed and his traditional \u201cFisherman\u2019s Ring<\/a>\u201d broken with a special hammer to destroy the unique seal he used to sign official letters.<\/p>\n

Inside the Vatican’s secret Pope election after death of Francis<\/p>\n

Key developments in the last 24 hours:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Follow our\u00a0live blog\u00a0<\/a>for the latest updates<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Congregation of Cardinals gathered yesterday to fine tune plans for the funeral and the elaborate rituals marking the end of one papacy and start of the next. <\/p>\n

Argentinian <\/a>Francis chose to be entombed at the Basilica of St Mary Major \u2014 the first time a Pope has been buried outside the Vatican in more than a century.<\/p>\n

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Thousands line up to pay their respects at the VaticanCredit: Darren Fletcher\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

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Swiss Guards salute a cardinal as he arrives at the VaticanCredit: Reuters\"Pope<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pope Francis with the Fisherman\u2019s Ring and a rosaryCredit: Reuters\"Illustration<\/a><\/p>\n

The church \u2014 more than three miles from the Vatican \u2014 was the first place he prayed when he ended his recent five-week hospital stay, battling double pneumonia.<\/p>\n

In typical style, the down-to-earth \u201cPope of the Poor\u201d was ferried there on that last visit in the front seat of a tiny white Fiat<\/a> 500.<\/p>\n

But enormous crowds are set to line the route on Saturday as he makes his final journey in a funeral cortege.<\/p>\n

Vatican officials announced yesterday the Pope\u2019s coffin will today be taken from Casa Santa Marta to St Peter\u2019s Basilica to begin lying in state. <\/p>\n

Senior cardinal Farrell will lead a prayer before the body is moved in a procession through the Piazza Santa Marta and Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani.<\/p>\n

Bible readings will follow before the procession of mourners begins to file past continuously until Saturday. US President Donald Trump<\/a> \u2014 who met Francis in 2017 \u2014 announced he would be attending the funeral with wife Melania<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He will join other world leaders, despite the late pontiff\u2019s vocal opposition to his headline-grabbing immigration<\/a> policies.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer<\/a>, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a>, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz<\/a> and French President Emmanuel Macron<\/a> will also attend. Prince William<\/a> is due to represent King Charles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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It was a discreet death, almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm, for a Pope who had always been very reserved about his health<\/p>\n

Vatican News<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Others due to be there will be EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen<\/a>, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva<\/a>, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Argentina\u2019s President Javier Milei<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More details emerged yesterday of the events surrounding the death of Francis early on Monday, just hours after he wished \u201cHappy Easter\u201d to crowds<\/a> from a Vatican balcony.<\/p>\n

He started to feel unwell at around 5.30am, when medics were alerted.<\/p>\n

He managed a final farewell gesture to devoted nurse Ms Strappetti, before then slipping into a coma.<\/p>\n

Vatican officials also disclosed the touching exchange between the pair while Ms Strappetti was at his side on Easter Sunday. <\/p>\n

Francis thanked the nurse, previously credited with saving his life, for \u201cbringing me back to the square\u201d, the Vatican News, the Holy See\u2019s media outlet revealed.<\/p>\n

Francis spent about 15 minutes waving at the crowd and blessing babies<\/a> from his Popemobile in his final public appearance.<\/p>\n

Doctors said he suffered a stroke then heart failure but died peacefully at 7.35am on Monday.<\/p>\n

Vatican News<\/a> said yesterday: \u201cHe did not suffer. It all happened quickly. It was a discreet death, almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm, for a Pope who had always been very reserved about his health<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The funeral in the shadow of St Peter\u2019s Basilica will start at 9am UK time on Saturday and will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals.<\/p>\n

It will be followed by a conclave of cardinals <\/a>to elect a new Pope, no sooner than May 6.<\/p>\n

The conclave election normally takes place 15 to 20 days after the death of a pontiff, but the exact date will not be decided until after the funeral.<\/p>\n

Around 135 cardinals are eligible to participate in the secretive ballots, which can last days, until white smoke pouring from a chimney of the Sistine Chapel tells the world a new Pope has been selected.<\/p>\n

There is currently no clear front-runner to succeed Francis.<\/p>\n

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Cardinals are now meeting in the Vatican to decide the date for the Pope’s funeralCredit: AP\"Emmanuel<\/a><\/p>\n

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French President Emmanuel Macron, right, with Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2018Credit: AP\"Pope<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pope Francis welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyCredit: Alamy\"Pope<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pope Francis speaks with the then-Prince Charles in October 2019Credit: Reuters<\/p>\n

What’s happening today at Vatican?<\/p>\n

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Cardinals are gathering this morning in the Vatican for a high-stakes meeting to kick off funeral planning and preparations for choosing Pope Francis\u2019s successor.<\/p>\n

According to the apostolic constitution, today\u2019s agenda will focus on several urgent decisions, including:<\/p>\n