A Nigerian pastor, Chris Oyakhilome, has made unsubstantiated claims that Pope Francis’s death was caused by the COVID-19 vaccine, an assertion that contradicts official reports from the Vatican.
Mr Oyakhilome, founder of Christ Embassy and president of LoveWorld Incorporated, made the allegations during a recent sermon, despite providing no credible evidence.
This is not the first time the cleric has promoted unfounded theories—in 2020, he falsely linked 5G technology to the spread of COVID-19 and the Antichrist.
Official cause of Pope Francis’s death
The Vatican confirmed that the 88-year-old pontiff passed away due to complications from a stroke, which led to a coma and heart failure.
However, Mr. Oyakhilome insists that the Pope’s death was instead caused by the COVID-19 vaccine, which he received years prior.
Pope Francis’s stance on vaccination
In January 2021, Pope Francis publicly advocated for COVID-19 vaccinations, stating that receiving the vaccine was a “moral obligation” to protect lives.
He emphasised that immunisation was an ethical choice aligned with safeguarding public health.
Oyakhilome’s controversial remarks
During a LoveWorld prayer programme, Mr Oyakhilome criticised the late Pope for encouraging vaccination, claiming:
While he was trying to encourage the world to take the vaccines, he stated that if Jesus were here, he would have taken the vaccine. I found that very insulting, and I talked about it. At that time, he was still with the globalists.
He believed them and encouraged the world to take the vaccine. And he too took the vaccine.
He further asserted, without evidence:
And I’m stating that the vaccine killed him. They said he had a stroke. Where did the stroke come from? Blood clots. And that’s one of the most common causes of death from the vaccine. They will not tell you the truth. That’s what I’m telling you.
History of misinformation
Mr. Oyakhilome has repeatedly spread vaccine misinformation, despite overwhelming scientific consensus that WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. He has falsely claimed that vaccines are designed to harm people, stating:
They called his (the Pope’s) own Sudden Death Syndrome. So remember that I warned you. And I told you that once that substance is inside your body, it can’t leave. Once injected into your body, it does not leave.
It doesn’t go away. They have no scientific way to remove it and never plan to find a solution. It was planned for death, to kill as many people around the world.
Global health rebuttal
Medical experts and global health authorities have repeatedly debunked such claims, affirming that COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives and remain a critical tool in combating the pandemic.
This latest assertion by Mr Oyakhilome follows a pattern of controversial statements that lack factual basis, further highlighting the dangers of medical misinformation.
