Pope Francis died of a stroke and heart failure, the Vatican said

Pope Francis died on Monday morning from a stroke followed by heart failure, according to a statement issued Monday evening by the Vatican's communications office.

Other conditions contributed to Francis' death, including a "previous episode of acute respiratory failure," arterial hypertension, and type II diabetes, according to the statement.

Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Vatican City State’s Health and Hygiene Directorate, signed the statement.

The late pope was hospitalized for five weeks earlier this year after contracting a serious respiratory illness. He was eventually diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection, which progressed to pneumonia in both lungs. Francis came dangerously near to death during his stay, according to his medical staff.

Despite his bad health, Francis, one of the church's oldest popes, was seen in public at the Vatican many times over Holy Week, culminating in an Easter Sunday visit that pleased throngs at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.