Pope Francis's cause of death may have been linked to a brain issue, possibly a stroke, Italian media reports. Italian daily La Repubblica also reported that the respiratory problems that prompted the hospitalisation of the leader of the Catholic Church earlier this year did not appear to be linked to the Argentine pope's death.

Unnamed doctors at the Gemelli hospital, where the pope was treated between February and March, said, according to the newspaper: "The pope died peacefully". Pope Francis was admitted to hospital on February 14, after being initially diagnosed with bronchitis. It later emerged that Pope Francis, whose real name was Jorge Maria Bergoglio, was suffering from dual pneumonia.

Between late February and early March, the pope suffered two severe health crises, according to the head of his medical team Dr Sergio Alfieri.

Speaking to Italian daily Corriere della Sera in late March, Dr Alfieri said of the pope's second health emergency: "That evening was terrible. He knew, like us, that he might not survive the night. We saw the man who was suffering."

After a 38-day-long hospitalisation, the pontiff was discharged from the hospital on March 23. Despite his delicate health state, Pope Francis carried out a series of duties over the past few days, including making a public appearance on Easter Sunday from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

During his latest appearance in public, Pope Francis wished the large crowd of faithful gathered outside the stunning church a "Happy Easter".

In his final Easter sermon, read by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Pope Francis called for an end to the "many conflicts raging in different parts of our world".

The death of the pope was announced on the morning of April 21 by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who said: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning [6.35am BST], the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."