Sergio, Pope Francis's Doctor, Surprises with His Unmatched Confession: 'He Had...'

The silence in Rome weighs more than ever. The city has been enveloped in an atmosphere of reflection, with thousands of faithful gathered around St. Peter's Basilica. Everyone seeks to pay homage to Pope Francis, the man who changed the recent history of the Church and who, with his departure, leaves a difficult-to-fill void.

In the midst of this solemn atmosphere, a voice close to the Pontiff has emerged. Sergio Alfieri, the doctor who accompanied him for years, has shared a series of experiences that reveal the deep bond that united him with Francis. His words have provoked emotion and astonishment.

The Connection That Went Beyond Medicine

Sergio Alfieri was not only Pope Francis's personal surgeon, he was a witness and participant in intimate moments, difficult decisions, and unforgettable encounters. Since the first operation in 2021, the relationship between the two transformed into something more than professional. Alfieri doesn't hesitate to describe it as a union marked by trust, esteem, and above all, affection.

He confesses that the Pope never wanted to leave matters pending, shortly before dying, he asked him to organize a meeting with all the healthcare staff who had treated him at Gemelli. There were seventy people, but Francis insisted on seeing them. "I'll meet with them on Wednesday," he replied firmly, it was as if he sensed he had little time left.

The hardest moment came on Monday morning when Alfieri received an urgent call at 5:30 that made him sense the seriousness of the situation. It was Strappetti, the Pope's trusted nurse, who alerted him with an urgent tone. The Pope was very ill, and there was a possibility they would have to take him back to Gemelli Hospital.

Although he alerted his medical team, Alfieri arrived at Santa Marta just twenty minutes later. Upon entering the room, he found him motionless on the bed, with a lost gaze and not reacting to any stimulus. "He had his eyes open, he didn't respond to me, there was nothing to be done," he confesses in an interview for El Mundo.

At that moment, he knew it was unnecessary to move him: not only because of the risk that he wouldn't endure it, but because the Pope had expressed his desire to die at home. A few moments later, surrounded by his closest team, Francis passed away in peace.

A Shared Secret and a Final Blessing

Despite the delicacy of his health, Pope Francis never lost his character or his ability to make decisions with clarity. During the first intervention, something occurred that had been kept secret until now.

Just before entering the operating room, the Pontiff asked to see Alfieri. When the doctor entered, Francis blessed his hands, "I only understood its meaning later," he admitted. It was his way of telling him that he should heal with the heart, not just with technique.

The doctor also revealed that on more than one occasion the Pope intervened to preserve hospitals with a Catholic identity. One of the cases was the Fatebenefratelli Hospital, which was about to be sold. Thanks to the efforts initiated by Francis, the center was saved, "This desire came from within me," said the Pontiff at the time.

In the last hospitalization, everyone feared the worst, but the Pope, true to his style, surprised once again. He recovered enough to return home and continue working, according to Alfieri, he never wanted to abandon his duty until the last moment. His will was clear: to die in his home, in peace, surrounded by those who shared with him more than a public life.