In about half an hour, Pope Francis passed away early Monday morning, well-informed Vatican sources reveal.

Pope Francis, Sky News was told, woke up at 6 am on Monday and had been well for at least an hour.

Around 7 a.m., the Vatican medical unit received an emergency call from his guesthouse, where he had chosen to live.

Medical staff considered, among other things, taking the pope to Gemelli Hospital, where he had been treated for pneumonia in February and March.

In addition, Rome police received an urgent request for an escort after 7 a.m., the sources said.

However, Francis’ condition improved quickly, and the request was cancelled. Francis nodded to his nurse, Massimiliano Strupett,i and fell into a coma.

Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. at the age of 88.

“He didn’t suffer, it all happened very quickly,” bystanders told Vatican News, the official media outlet of the Holy See.

The “thank you” for the walk in the square

“Thank you for bringing me back to the square”: these were Pope Francis’ words to his personal attendant who encouraged him to take one last ride through St. Peter’s Square e the special motorized vehicle on Easter Sunday.

This was one of the pontiff’s last words before his death, according to Vatican News.

After the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis appeared in St. Peter’s Square, to the surprise of the thousands of faithful who had gathered for Easter.

Before he started, Francis asked Massimiliano Strapetti: “Do you think I can do it?” Strupetti reassured him. He then remained in the corridors of the square for nearly fifteen minutes and blessed babies in a warm atmosphere, surrounded by numerous bodyguards.

According to Vatican News, the Pope rested in the afternoon in his apartment at the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican and then had dinner.

Pope Francis’ funeral will be held Saturday morning in the presence of a large number of faithful and heads of state, after which a conclave will be convened to elect his successor.