According to Alfieri, the Pope died quickly on Monday morning due to an unexpected stroke without suffering undue pain, adding that there was nothing that doctors could have done to save his life.
Alfieri received a call to rush to the Vatican around 5:30 am and arrived 20 minutes later.
Upon examination, he found Francis with his eyes open but unresponsive.
Despite suggestions to move the pope to the hospital, Alfieri believed it would have been futile.
The pope’s death came as a shock, given his appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, where he greeted cheering crowds from an open-air popemobile.
Francis had been recovering from a bout of double pneumonia earlier this year.
Alfieri attributed the pope’s death to a severe stroke that would have been fatal regardless of medical intervention.
“I entered his room and he (Francis) had his eyes open. I ascertained that there were no respiratory problems. And then I tried to call his name, but he did not respond to me.
“At that moment I knew there was nothing more to do. He was in a coma,” he said.
