Pope Francis died of cerebral stroke: Vatican

The Vatican has announced that the cause of Pope Francis' death has been identified as a cerebral stroke which led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.

"Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, issued the official certification," the Vatican News website reported.

Following the certification, the Holy See Press Office released the report on Monday evening, it added.

According to the medical report, the 88-year-old pontiff had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes.

"I hereby declare that the causes of death, to the best of my knowledge and judgment, are as stated above," Dr. Arcangeli wrote.

Pope Francis' death was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography.

The Argentine was the first to be pope from Latin America. His papacy began in March 2013 and lasted until his demise.

A day before his death, the pontiff made what became his final appearance, as he briefly appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to greet the crowd on Easter Sunday. However, he was too weak to deliver his full traditional Easter message.