The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, on Friday, April 25, 2025, revealed the last moments of the late Pope Francis and his struggle uttering words.

Megen, the head of the Apostolic Nunciature, the embassy of the Holy See (Vatican City State) in Kenya, told congregants at the Holy Family Minor Basilica in Nairobi that the late Pope Francis lost his voice during his final moments.

According to Archbishop Megen, the pope even struggled to deliver his message during Easter Sunday, where he made a rare public appearance before passing on the next morning.

“Something very symbolic happened. At the end of his life, Pope Francis lost his voice. It was very difficult for him to speak even two or three words,” he stated.

“We have seen him on TV, still on Easter Sunday, as he was giving his last blessings, how he struggled in pronouncing those few words, not more than two sentences, and how he was gasping for breath,” he added.

Symbolism

In his short address to the congregants, the head of the Apostolic Nunciature insisted that the Pope’s losing his voice was symbolic, bearing in mind he was largely considered the voice of the voiceless.

He argued that the loss of his voice sent a message to believers to rise and speak for those being persecuted and discriminated against in society.

According to Megen, by so doing, people would keep alive his legacy of defending those considered voiceless.

“He himself, all his life had identified with the voiceless had now become voiceless himself. Maybe there is also our vocation that if we truly want to follow in his footsteps, then we should become his voice,” Megen stated.

“As he had been the voice of others, it is our turn to be his voice. He identified till the end with the voiceless, with those who were trampled upon, those who apparently have no rights, those who were not able to speak out that we speak out for them, that we defend them.”

The late Pope Francis is expected to be buried on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in a less flashy ceremony. Hundreds of mourners across the world are expected to witness the final sendoff in the Vatican.

President William Ruto will be represented by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Masika Wetang’ula.