Pope Francis greets people as he attends the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s square at the Vatican, March 8, 2023.
Guglielmo Mangiapane | Reuters
Tributes and condolences poured in from around the world following news of the death of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88.
Francis, who was elected the Catholic Church’s 266th pope after the retirement of Benedict XVI in 2013, was the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, born in Argentina to Italian-Argentinian parents.
He made waves during his papacy as a reformer who often rattled the church’s most conservative quarters, but found popularity among progressives who embraced his championing of social justice and support for marginalized groups.
Francis’ last official meeting was with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday, just one day before his passing.
In a post on X, Vance wrote: “I just leaned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”
The White House’s official X account posted two photos of the pope, one with President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, and the other with Vance, alongside a caption that read: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.”
Trump on his Truth Social account, meanwhile, posted: “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted an emotional message on her official Facebook account that read: “Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s house. A news that pains us deeply, because a great man and a great pastor leaves us. I have had the privilege to enjoy his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never diminished even in times of trial and suffering.”
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni receives Pope Francis as he arrives at the G7 Leaders Summit on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia on June 14, 2024 in Fasano, Italy.
Vatican Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images
French President Emmanuel Macron, in a post on X, wrote: “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. May it unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him. My wife and I send our thoughts to all Catholics and to the grieving world.”
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on X described Francis as “in every way a man of the people.”
The U.K.’s King Charles issued a statement from the royal family, saying that he and the Queen “will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ” and that the late Pope would be “remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith.”
Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, posted a note of condolences describing Pope Francis’ “tireless commitment to the weakest in society, to justice and reconciliation.”
Polish President Andrzej Duda praised the Vatican leader as being “guided by humility and modesty.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a statement on X, hailed Francis’ “humility and love so pure for the less fortunate,” adding that her “thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences in a post on X, saying that the Pope “knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support.”
Pope Francis holds the Ukrainian flag that was sent to him from the town of Bucha, where tied bodies of civilians who were shot at close range, a mass grave and other signs of executions were found, during the weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, April 6, 2022.
Vatican Media | Reuters
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his “deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel – the Holy Land – on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis.” The Pope had long decried violence in the Middle East and called vocally for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
A statement posted to the Egyptian presidential spokesperson’s Facebook page said that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi “mourns with deep sorrow the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican, who left our world, leaving behind a great humanitarian legacy that will remain etched in the conscience of humanity.” The post described Francis as a “champion of the Palestinian cause” who called for an end to conflicts and “achievement of a just and lasting peace.”
Pope Francis delivers his Christmas Urbi Et Orbi Blessing and his traditional Christmas Day message from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square on December 25, 2024 in Vatican City, Vatican.
Vatican Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, also offered his condolences to Christians all over the world on the passing of Pope Francis, according to an NBC translation of a Telegram post from Iran’s semiofficial news agency Fars News.
Prime Minister of India Narenda Modi said he was “deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis,” and that “his affection for the people of India will always be cherished.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued a lengthy and heartfelt post on X, writing, “Today, humanity loses a voice of respect and acceptance of others,” and highlighting Francis’ efforts to bring the issues of climate change and economic inequality to the Vatican. He declared seven days of mourning in Brazil.
Caudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico, called Francis “a humanist who stood for the poor, peace, and equality” and who “left behind a great legacy of true love for one’s neighbor.”
“For Catholics and non-Catholics alike,” Sheinbaum added in her post on X, “this is a great loss.” Brazil and Mexico are home to the world’s largest Catholic populations by country.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wrote on X that he was “saddened” to hear of the Pope’s passing, and described his legacy as that of “an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue.”
Correction: Emmanuel Macron is president of France. An earlier version misspelled his name.
