By Parrot Newspaper 
Pastor Chris Sparks Firestorm: Claims Covid Vaccine “Killed” Pope Francis – But Does Science Agree?
In a jaw-dropping declaration that has set tongues wagging across Nigeria and beyond, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Christ Embassy, has blamed the Covid-19 vaccine for the death of Pope Francis. Speaking with an unmistakable note of certainty, Oyakhilome alleged that the late pontiff — who was known for encouraging millions to take the vaccine — “was killed by the vaccine.”
“He took it to encourage others. After he took it, he was sick, in and out of hospital… He was killed by the vaccine,” the televangelist thundered, casting a dark shadow over one of the most controversial public health debates of our time.
But while Oyakhilome’s remarks have electrified his followers and fueled renewed conspiracy theories online, a closer, fact-based examination tells a very different story — one rooted in hard scientific evidence rather than emotional rhetoric.
The Reality Check: What Really Happened?
First, Pope Francis died at 88 years old. Reports confirmed that the pontiff had been battling several age-related health issues — including chronic respiratory problems, hip issues, and complications from colon surgery. Medical experts have long emphasized that such conditions are typical for people of advanced age, regardless of vaccination status.
Furthermore, multiple scientific studies, including those published in The Lancet and Nature, have consistently shown that Covid-19 vaccines have a strong safety profile, particularly among older adults. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), serious side effects from Covid vaccines are exceedingly rare — occurring in roughly 2 to 5 people per million vaccinated.
Pastor Chris blames Covid vaccine for Pope’s death
Pope Francis received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, an mRNA vaccine, which extensive global research has shown does not have a statistically significant risk of sudden death or long-term organ failure. In fact, data shows the mRNA vaccines reduced the risk of death from Covid-19 by over 90%, especially among the elderly.
A 2023 study in The New England Journal of Medicine reinforced this, finding that vaccinated elderly populations had dramatically lower hospitalization and death rates compared to their unvaccinated counterparts.
Debunking the Myth: Vaccines and Long-Term Health
Oyakhilome’s assertion that the vaccine caused delayed illness leading to the Pope’s death is scientifically unfounded.
Most adverse reactions to vaccines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), occur within the first six to eight weeks after vaccination — not years later.
Pope Francis was vaccinated in early 2021, a full three years before his passing. No medical reports during this period linked his hospital visits or eventual health decline to the vaccine. Instead, official Vatican communications consistently pointed to his age-related frailty and surgical complications.
Pastor Chris’s Long History with Covid-19 Controversies
It’s worth noting that Pastor Chris has a documented history of questioning the pandemic’s reality, linking it to bizarre theories involving 5G technology and “global conspiracies” — claims that have been widely debunked by scientific and independent investigations.
His latest claim about Pope Francis fits a familiar pattern: bold assertions without verifiable evidence, fanning fear and distrust rather than promoting informed discussion.
Final Verdict: Emotion vs. Evidence
While Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s passionate speech may resonate emotionally with his audience, it simply doesn’t hold up under scientific scrutiny.
Pope Francis’s death was consistent with natural age-related decline — not the result of vaccination.
Pastor Chris blames Covid vaccine for Pope’s death
At Parrot Newspaper, we believe facts should lead the conversation, not fear.