In the final hours of his life, Pope Francis uttered a quiet phrase that encapsulated his papacy’s deepest essence: “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square.” These were his last words to Massimiliano Strappetti, the devoted nurse who had been at his side through years of declining health and who, by the Pope’s own account, once saved his life.
Strappetti, a nurse at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, had been personally appointed by the Pope as his healthcare assistant in 2022. Their bond was more than clinical—it was one of trust, companionship, and a shared mission rooted in compassion. It was Strappetti who suggested the critical colon surgery that extended the Pope’s life, and it was he who stayed close during the Pope’s 38-day hospitalization earlier this year.
On Easter Sunday, just one day before his death, Pope Francis made an extraordinary final gesture: a surprise ride in the popemobile around St. Peter’s Square. Frail but resolute, he had reviewed the route the day prior with Strappetti, seeking his opinion: “Do you think I can manage it?” The Pope’s joy was evident as he greeted some 50,000 faithful, reaching out especially to children, and offering what would be his final public blessing.
After returning to the Casa Santa Marta that evening, Pope Francis enjoyed a quiet dinner and rest. The next morning, signs of a sudden illness emerged. Around 6:30 AM, after a gesture of farewell with his hand to Strappetti, the Pope slipped into a coma and died peacefully shortly thereafter. Those with him said there was no suffering, only stillness and grace.
His death, just one day after offering his Urbi et Orbi blessing, was profoundly fitting for a pontiff who made human connection the hallmark of his reign. From the moment he appeared on the balcony on March 13, 2013, as the newly elected Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis had promised to walk “together” with the people of God.
Strappetti’s role in those final days has now become part of the Pope’s legacy—a symbol of the humble, personal relationships that defined Francis’ leadership. “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square,” the Pope told him, not only with gratitude for the ride, but for a life lived in service to others, even to his last breath.
Pope Francis’ body lies in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, where mourners have begun to gather ahead of his funeral on Saturday. But for many, his final ride through the Square—tired, smiling, hand outstretched—is the farewell they will remember most.
