As the world grieves, the Pope’s closest associates have shared the truth about his last hours, including his heartfelt farewell gesture and the words he decided to leave behind.

Pope Francis thanked the guy who had supported him during his sickness with a simple hand gesture in his dying moments. It was a brief but impactful farewell.

Moments earlier, he had whispered nine poignant words, his last known sentence — “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square.” Those words were addressed to Massimiliano Strappetti, the nurse who had become a central figure in the Pope’s final years.