Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in a video statement Monday. He was 88 years old and had recently suffered a serious bout of double pneumonia.
As the global Christian community mourns the death of the pontiff, world leaders paid tribute to Pope Francis.
The White House expressed his condolance after death aged 88 by Pope Francis.
“Rest in peace, Pope Francis,” wrote the US Presidency of X, accompanied by photos of the Pontiff Meeting President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vancce on separate occasions.
Meanwhile, American Vice President JD Vance, who had just met the pope during his visit to Italy, expressed solidarity with the Christians across the globe.
“I just learned about Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was glad to see him yesterday (Sunday), though he was obviously very ill. But I always want to remember him for …. homely, he gave in the very early days of Covid. It was really pretty pretty.”
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made 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 in times of trial and suffering,” Meloni said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in his announcement of the apartment: “Throughout his ponttern, Pope Francis had always sided with the most vulnerable and the most fragile, and that he did this with a lot of humility. During this time of war and brutality he had a sense of the other, for the most fragile.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to the deceased Pontiff and said that “Pope Francis will always be remembered as a lighthouse for compassion, humility and spiritual courage of millions around the world.
“He diligently served the poor and downhill. For those who suffered, he ignited a spirit of hope. I gladly remember my meetings with him and were very inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His love for the people of India will always be loved. His soul must find eternal peace in God’s embrace.”
The German Chancellor-I-event at Fredrich Merz said Pope Francis would be remembered for tireless commitment to the weakest members of society.
“He was ruled by humility and belief in the grace of God,” Merz said in a post on X.
President of the Catholic Bishop Conference in the Philippines Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David expressed deeply shock to the news of Pope Francis’ death.
“Please let’s call the bells in our churches and call our people to prayer the eternal rest of the holy father Pope Francis, who went on almost ten minutes ago.”
