By the Pope’s Side: Massimiliano Strappetti, The Nurse Who Witnessed Pope Francis’ Final Moments

VATICAN CITY, April 29, 2025: Massimiliano Strappetti, the Italian nurse who had cared for Pope Francis since 2022, was among the few present when the Holy Father passed away on Easter Monday. Strappetti, who worked as Pope Francis' personal nurse , first joined the Vatican's health department in 2002 after serving eight years in the intensive care unit at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. He served for many years as the nursing coordinator at the Vatican health department. His long association with the pope began in 2021 as part of the medical team that advised a crucial colon surgery. Following that successful operation and recovery, Pope Francis publicly credited Strappetti for saving his life, praising his expertise and dedication.

Strappetti's appointment as the pope’s personal nurse came after accompanying the pontiff on a demanding apostolic journey to Canada in July 2022, amid the pope’s ongoing struggles with knee issues. From August 2022 onwards, Strappetti was a constant presence at the pope’s public events, including weekly general audiences and international apostolic journeys.

On Easter Sunday, April 20, Strappetti brought the frail pope in a wheelchair to the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica for his final Urbi et Orbi blessing. After delivering the address, the pope turned to Strappetti and asked, “Do you think I can manage it?” before greeting 50,000 faithful from the popemobile. Vatican News reported that the next morning, around 5:30 a.m., Pope Francis’ health rapidly worsened. An hour later, he made a final farewell gesture to Strappetti before slipping into a coma from which he did not recover.

Throughout the pope’s declining health, Strappetti provided round-the-clock care, especially after the Holy Father’s prolonged hospitalisation at Gemelli earlier that year. Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of the Gemelli medical team, revealed that Strappetti conveyed Pope Francis’ clear directive during critical moments of his treatment: “Try everything; let’s not give up.”

Strappetti’s steadfast presence in the final years of Pope Francis’ life reflects a bond of trust and care that endured through illness, recovery, and ultimately, the pope’s peaceful farewell.

By Kristina Millare of Catholic News Agency