Why Pope Francis Ignored Doctors’ Orders to Deliver One Last Blessing

Beloved Pope Francis’ uncompromising devotion to his flock hastened his death, say medical experts.

The venerable 88-year-old pontiff, the first pope to come from the Americas, bravely — and some say foolishly — forced himself to address a massive gathering in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday in a charitable act that likely killed him the very next day.

The appearance came less than a month after Francis was released from an Italian hospital, where he lingered at death’s door while courageously battling double pneumonia. Doctors advised two months’ rest, but Francis couldn’t resist resuming at least some of his duties.

“He was obviously devoted to the pilgrims who traveled the globe to experience Easter in Vatican City, but he was in serious condition and should have been recuperating for months,” says New York internist Dr. Stuart Fischer, who did not treat the pope. “He chose his duty over his health — and it probably cost him his life.”

The frail but determined Argentinian pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, suffered a stroke and irreversible heart failure one day after greeting thousands of Easter celebrants. He also conducted a full day of meetings, including one with Vice President JD Vance.

“The pope wanted to make it crystal clear to Vance that he did not approve of the deportation policies instituted by the Trump administration,” one pundit tells GLOBE. “But he also wanted to improve their dialogue about them and knew the opportunity may not come again.”

Two months earlier, Francis — who made the plight of migrants one of the key focuses of his papacy — issued a letter to American bishops on the subject and specifically mentioned Vance.

In Rome, an aide to the pope gave the vice president three chocolate Easter eggs for his children, a tie with the Vatican’s emblem, and rosaries. Vance, a Catholic convert, told the pope, “I pray for you every day.”

Sources say the encounter must have been urgently important to Francis because he’d been warned about overdoing it after leaving the hospital.

Just days earlier, the pope visited a prison in Rome and told the media he was experiencing Holy Week “as best I can.” Sadly, pushing himself may have accelerated his demise!

“Either he sensed he was on the verge of passing away or he was as devoted to his calling as people thought,” says Dr. Fischer. “Either way, his time was cut short by that dedication.”