Pope Francis’ doctor on Thursday recounted the pontiff’s final moments in a pair of newspaper interviews, saying the pontiff had his eyes open and was breathing with oxygen.
The doctor said that the pope was unresponsive after being stricken by illness early on Monday morning; he died without suffering at home.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri coordinated Francis’ five-week hospital treatment for double pneumonia.
Alfieri continued to oversee the pope’s treatment after the pontiff returned to the Vatican on March 23 for two months of rest to allow a full recovery.
He was alerted at 5:30 a.m. on Monday by Francis’ health care assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti that the pope had been stricken and needed to be taken to the hospital.
