Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Claims Pope Francis Died from COVID-19 Vaccine: Separating Fact from Fiction
In a viral video circulating in April 2025, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the founder of Christ Embassy, a prominent Nigerian megachurch, made a bold and controversial claim: Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, died due to complications from the COVID-19 vaccine. Oyakhilome alleged that the Pope suffered a stroke caused by blood clots, which he directly linked to the vaccine. According to the pastor, Pope Francis’s public endorsement of the vaccine and his decision to receive it led to his declining health and eventual death. Oyakhilome further claimed that the true cause of the Pope’s death would be concealed from the public. These statements have sparked significant debate, with some amplifying the claims on social media platforms like X, while others dismiss them as baseless conspiracy theories. This article examines Oyakhilome’s allegations, the official reports surrounding Pope Francis’s death, and the broader context of vaccine misinformation.
Pastor Oyakhilome’s Claims
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, a televangelist known for his global following and controversial statements, made these remarks during a sermon that was widely shared online. In the video, he specifically pointed to the COVID-19 vaccine as the cause of Pope Francis’s death, asserting that the pontiff’s health deteriorated after receiving the vaccine. Oyakhilome claimed that the stroke, which he said was triggered by blood clots, was a direct result of the vaccine’s side effects. He went further, suggesting that global authorities would suppress the truth about the vaccine’s role in the Pope’s death to protect the narrative surrounding its safety.
This is not the first time Oyakhilome has made headlines for spreading misinformation. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he claimed that 5G technology was responsible for the spread of the virus, a theory widely debunked by scientists and telecommunications experts. He has also been criticized for promoting unverified claims about vaccines, including the malaria vaccine, and for discouraging his followers from adhering to public health measures. In 2021, the UK’s media regulator, Ofcom, fined his Loveworld television network for broadcasting misleading information about COVID-19. The National Inter-Faith Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROP) in Nigeria has also publicly condemned Oyakhilome’s anti-vaccine rhetoric, accusing him of undermining public health efforts.
Official Reports on Pope Francis’s Death
According to official statements from the Vatican, Pope Francis passed away in February 2025 at the age of 88, following a stroke and heart failure. He had been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital for bronchitis and bilateral pneumonia, conditions that exacerbated his already fragile health. The Pope’s medical history included a partial lung removal in his youth due to a respiratory infection, as well as multiple hospitalizations in recent years. In 2023, he was treated for bronchitis, and he underwent abdominal surgeries for intestinal issues, including a hernia operation. These pre-existing conditions made him particularly vulnerable to respiratory and cardiovascular complications.
The Vatican’s reports make no mention of the COVID-19 vaccine as a contributing factor in the Pope’s death. Instead, they attribute his passing to a combination of advanced age, chronic health issues, and the acute illnesses he faced in his final days. Pope Francis was a vocal advocate for COVID-19 vaccination, describing it as an “act of love” and receiving his doses publicly to encourage others. His stance aligned with the Catholic Church’s broader support for vaccines, which it deemed morally acceptable and beneficial for the common good.
The Science Behind COVID-19 Vaccines
Oyakhilome’s claim that the COVID-19 vaccine caused Pope Francis’s death hinges on the assertion that it led to blood clots and a stroke. While it is true that some COVID-19 vaccines, notably the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, were linked to rare cases of blood clotting disorders (such as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT), these side effects were exceedingly rare. Regulatory agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) conducted extensive investigations into these cases and concluded that the benefits of vaccination far outweighed the risks.
Moreover, the vaccines most commonly used in Europe, where Pope Francis resided, were the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines, which have not been associated with blood clotting issues. Decades of research on vaccine safety, combined with real-world data from billions of administered doses, confirm that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from the virus. Strokes and heart failure, as experienced by Pope Francis, are more commonly associated with advanced age, pre-existing health conditions, and infections like pneumonia than with vaccination.
The Context of Misinformation
Pastor Oyakhilome’s claims fit into a broader pattern of vaccine misinformation that has persisted since the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Conspiracy theories linking vaccines to widespread harm, including sudden deaths and chronic illnesses, have been repeatedly debunked but continue to circulate, often amplified by influential figures with large platforms. Oyakhilome’s global reach, through his church and media outlets, gives his statements significant weight among his followers, many of whom may be skeptical of public health institutions.
Posts on X reflect the polarized reactions to Oyakhilome’s claims. Some users have shared his video, endorsing his narrative and expressing distrust in vaccines. Others have ridiculed the assertion, pointing out that Pope Francis’s age and medical history make his death unsurprising, regardless of vaccination status. One X post sarcastically remarked, “An 88-year-old with a history of lung problems dies after pneumonia, and somehow it’s the vaccine’s fault?” Such skepticism aligns with the scientific consensus and official reports, which provide no evidence to support Oyakhilome’s allegations.
The Danger of Unsubstantiated Claims
Misinformation about vaccines can have serious consequences, particularly in regions like Nigeria, where vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge. Oyakhilome’s statements risk undermining trust in public health initiatives, potentially discouraging people from receiving life-saving vaccinations. The spread of such claims also diverts attention from addressing real health challenges, such as improving access to healthcare and combating infectious diseases.
The Catholic Church, under Pope Francis’s leadership, consistently promoted vaccination as a moral and social responsibility. His death, attributed to natural causes and well-documented health struggles, should not be co-opted into narratives that lack evidence. Oyakhilome’s history of promoting conspiracy theories, combined with the absence of credible data supporting his claims, suggests that his assertions about the Pope’s death are more rooted in sensationalism than in fact.
Conclusion
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s claim that Pope Francis died from the COVID-19 vaccine is unsupported by evidence and contradicts official reports from the Vatican. Pope Francis’s death in February 2025 was attributed to a stroke and heart failure, compounded by bronchitis, pneumonia, and a lifetime of health challenges. Scientific data and global health authorities confirm the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, with rare side effects like blood clots not applicable to the vaccines most likely received by the Pope. Oyakhilome’s history of spreading misinformation, coupled with the lack of substantiation for his claims, calls for critical scrutiny. As misinformation continues to spread, it is essential to rely on verified sources and scientific evidence to separate fact from fiction.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, visit the websites of the World Health Organization (www.who.int) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov). For details on xAI’s products, including Grok, visit https://x.ai/grok.
