New York college honors Pope Francis’ nurse with honorary degree

In a ceremony held just outside the Vatican, Maria College of Albany, New York, awarded an honorary degree to Massimiliano Strappetti, the longtime Vatican nurse whose quiet heroism helped save Pope Francis during a near-fatal illness earlier this year.

Strappetti, who urged doctors to continue aggressive treatment during a critical moment in the late pope’s battle with pneumonia, was honored for his "outstanding commitment to patient advocacy, clinical excellence, and compassionate care" — hallmarks of the Sisters of Mercy, who sponsor Maria College according to a Nov. 3 press release.

“Try everything. Don’t give up,” Strappetti told doctors Feb. 28, when the Holy Father faced four severe respiratory crises. 

That conviction may have changed the course of papal history. Pope Francis returned to the Vatican in March and was able to participate in Easter celebrations — an emotional moment for the pontiff and Catholics worldwide before his ultimate passing on April 21.

Dr. Lynn Ortale, the college’s president, said Strappetti embodies “Mercy in action” — the lived values of hope and human dignity. 

“He didn’t just care for the Pope with skill,” she said, according to the release. “He stood up for him when it mattered most. His voice and presence made a real difference in one person’s life, and that’s exactly what we ask of our students as nurses and as human beings.”

A nurse since 1991, Strappetti has served three popes and now leads the Vatican medical team. His first years were spent working in the hematology and bone marrow transplant department at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital. He then moved to the intensive care unit and became an instructor in life support, trauma care, and disaster medicine. 

“When Pope John Paul II was hospitalized there, Strappetti was assigned to care for him, which led to his transfer to the Vatican,” the release noted. “He then served Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, becoming the first nurse in Vatican history appointed to lead a medical team.

Strappetti accepted the honor with humility, saying he was pleased to receive the honor from an important school to those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

“I accept this recognition not just for myself,” Strappetti said, “but for all nurses who work tirelessly in hospitals and beyond.”

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