Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died, the Vatican announced on a video statement on Monday. He was 88 years old and had recently suffered a double serious pneumonia.
US Vice President JD Vance, who met Pope Francis a day ago, on Easter Sunday, said the sovereign was visibly affected by the disease, according to Reuters.
“I just learned about Pope Francis's death. My heart is with the millions of Christians around the world that loved him.
“I was happy to see him yesterday (Sunday, no), although he was obviously very sick. But I will always remember him for the sermon … which he kept in the first days of Covid. He was really very beautiful,” said Vance.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mourned the departure of “a great man, a great shepherd”.
“I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice, his teachings, who never ceased, even at times of test and suffering,” said Meloni.
“It has always been on the side of the most vulnerable and fragile”
French President Emmanuel Macron noted that the Pontiff has always been with those in need.
“Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has always been on the part of the most vulnerable and more fragile, and that he did so with much humility. During this period of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile,” said Macron.
And the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to the one who was for 12 years the leader of the Catholic Church.
“Pope Francis will always be remembered as a lighthouse of compassion, humility and spiritual courage of millions of people around the world.
“He served the poor and the oppressed. For those who suffered, he lit a spirit of hope. I fondly remember my meetings with him and I was very inspired by his commitment to inclusive and global development. His affection for the Indian people will always be valued.
Pope Francis will be kept in mind for the tireless commitment to the weakest members of the society, stressed the possible German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
“He was guided by humility and faith in the mercy of God,” Merz said in a post on X.
“He was guided by humility and simplicity”
“A man with a deep faith and compassion without limits, he dedicated his life to help them the poor and the call to peace in a disturbed world,” said Israeli president Isaac Herzog about Pope Francis.
“I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages (from Gaza) will be listened to soon,” Herzog said.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, the president of the Conference of the Catholic bishops of the Philippines, extended that he was shocked by the news that the Sovereign Pontiff ceased life.
“Let us pray the bells of our churches and call our people to pray for the eternal rest of Saint Father Pope Francis, who died just ten minutes ago,” said the cardinal.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said that the Pope was a great apostle of mercy, in which he saw the answer to the challenges of the modern world, notes The Guardian.
In an X post, Duda said: “In his pastoral work, he was guided by humility and simplicity.”
Short message from the White House
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that with the death of Pope Francis, “the Catholic Church and the world lose a lawyer of the weak, a reconcillant and warm person.”
“I really appreciated his clear vision of the challenges we face,” the German leader said on the X. “My condolences go to the religious community throughout the world.”
Account X of the White House wrote in a post: “Rest in peace, Pope Francis.”
Posting is accompanied by photos of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance with Pope Francis.
