Tributes begin for Pope Francis after Vatican confirms his death, aged 88
Tributes are being paid to Pope Francis after the confirmation of his death by the Vatican. He was aged 88.
Pope Francis died Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Farrell said in the announcement. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Triune.″
Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on 14 February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy.
Pope Francis marked Easter Sunday by blessing thousands of people who had gathered for mass in St Peter’s Square and then embarking on a surprise popemobile tour around the piazza on Sunday.
The 88-year-old pontiff did not celebrate mass in the square, delegating the service instead to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica.
Francis was diagnosed with bronchitis in early February, but had continued to hold daily audiences in his Vatican hotel suite, and even presided at an outdoor Mass on Sunday 9 February.
But he had handed over his speeches for an aide to read aloud, saying he was having trouble breathing.
Francis, who had part of one lung removed at age 21, had long battled health problems, especially bouts of acute bronchitis in winter and had used a wheelchair, walker or cane when moving around his apartment.
The Pope was especially prone to lung infections due to developing pleurisy – an inflammation of the thin outer covering of the lung – as an adult.
Key events
Vladimir Putin sends ‘sincere condolences’ on death of Pope Francis
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his condolences on the death of Pope Francis, the Kremlin said on Monday, Reuters reports
“Please accept my most sincere condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis,” Putin said in a message to Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
“Throughout the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted the development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive cooperation between Russia and the Holy See.
“In this sad hour, I would like to convey to you and the entire Catholic clergy my words of sympathy and support,” Putin said in the message.
Keir Starmer pays tribute to Pope Francis, a ‘pope for the poor and forgotten’
The UK prime minister Keir Starmer has paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying his death is a reminder of “his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs”, PA News reports.
Starmer said:
I join millions around the world in grieving the death of His Holiness Pope Francis.
His leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility.
Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost hope of a better world.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, paid tribute to Pope Francis, honouring him as “a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage.”
“Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community,” Modi wrote on X.
“Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” he added.
We have more from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who said she mourned Pope Francis on Monday as a friend who had given her comfort in tough times and done his duty to the end.
“The Pope and I had a more active relationship than was apparent. It went well beyond our respective institutional roles,” she told Italian state broadcaster RAI, Reuters reports.
“We’ve met many times, even just to exchange opinions. He was able to give comfort in very difficult moments, I have many memories of the Pope.
She added: “The fact he’s leaving on Easter Monday, it’s like he wanted to do his duty until the very end,” Meloni added, saying he had appeared fatigued at their most recent meeting.
She said the Pope kept in a drawer some artwork her daughter had made for him. She was also proud of convincing him to become the first pontiff to address a Group of Seven summit in 2024.
King Charles ‘deeply saddened’ at death of Pope Francis
King Charles has paid tribute to Pope Francis:
My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavyhearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.
His Holiness will 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, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.
The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.
We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
Charles R.
Helen Davidson
Taiwan has extended condolences to the Vatican, which is one of just a handful of governments that recognise Taiwan as a country.
“Due to the profound friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican, in addition to sending officials of appropriate levels as special envoys to attend the Pope’s funeral, senior government officials will also attend the memorial mass held by the Vatican’s Embassy in Taiwan to express the deepest condolences of the Taiwanese people, Catholic believers, and the government,” Taiwan’s Ministry Of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“His humility and concern for all humanity, especially his active call for world peace, will always remain in the hearts of our people and government. In this moment of sorrow, our people, Catholics and the government mourn together.”
Kenya’s president William Ruto has paid tribute on X:
We join the Catholic Church and the global Christian community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis.
This is a big loss to the Catholic faithful and the Christian world. Pope Francis will be remembered for a life dedicated to serving the Lord, the Church, and humanity.
He exemplified servant leadership through his humility, his unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice, and his deep compassion for the poor and the vulnerable.
His strong ethical and moral convictions inspired millions across the world, regardless of faith or background.
May his soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
The White House X account has posted:
Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.
The post is accompanied by photographs of President Donald Trump and vice-president JD Vance with Pope Francis.
Tony Blair said Pope Francis was admired “for his humility, compassion and unwavering commitment to the Christian faith”.
The former UK prime minister, who converted to Catholicism after leaving office, said:
Pope Francis was an extraordinary and devoted servant of the Catholic Church, admired both within and beyond it for his humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the Christian faith and the service of all humanity-Christian and non-Christian alike.
Cherie and I are deeply saddened by his passing. May he rest in peace.
Former archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has paid tribute to Pope Francis as someone who became a friend, adding that he will “miss him deeply”, PA Media reports.
Welby said:
It is with a deep sense of personal sadness that I mourn the death of my friend, His Holiness Pope Francis.
With our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters – along with the global Church and many more around the world – I’m filled with a great sense of loss. He was a Pope who spoke not just to the Catholic church, but far beyond it. His leadership was felt powerfully among us in the Anglican Communion.From the very first days of his papacy he was an example of humility. He constantly reminded us of the importance of serving the poor, always standing with those who faced persecution and hardship.
During my time as Archbishop of Canterbury, it was a great privilege to work with him in peacebuilding, not least in South Sudan. Over the years he became a friend and I will miss him deeply.
For his commitment to walking together as Roman Catholics and Anglicans, and for his vision and passion for working for ever greater reconciliation and unity between all Christian denominations, I am profoundly grateful.
I give thanks to God for the life of this faithful servant of Christ. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said with the death of Pope Francis, “the Catholic Church and the world lose an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person”.
“I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face,” the outgoing leader said on X. “My sympathies go out to the religious community worldwide.”
Polish President Andrzej Duda said the pope was a great apostle of Mercy, in whom he saw the answer to the challenges of the modern world.
In a post on X, Duda said:
In his pastoral ministry, he was guided by humility and simplicity.
Deborah Cole
Friedrich Merz, expected to be sworn in as German chancellor next month, expressed his “great sadness” at the pope’s death.
“Francis will be remembered for his tireless engagement for the weakest in society, for justice and reconciliation,” Merz posted on X. “Humility and the belief in God’s mercy guided him.”
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the world had “lost a shining beacon of hope”.
“His modesty, his spontaneity and his humour, but above all his tangibly deep faith touched people all over the world – and gave them support, strength and orientation,” Steinmeier said in an emailed statement.
“For so many people, Francis was a credible witness to the Christian message, for whom the lived practice of faith was particularly important. From the very first days of his ministry as Bishop of Rome, he made it clear that the poor and marginalised, the displaced and refugees could be sure of his special attention, his special care and even his special love. Many who felt forgotten felt heard, seen and understood by him, the pope.”
A statement from Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, said:
Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), has conveyed the CER’s deep sorrow to the Holy See on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.
Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt remembers Pope Francis’s unwavering dedication to promoting peace and goodwill worldwide. He also fondly recalls his many meetings with the Pope and his efforts to strengthen Catholic-Jewish relations, including their meeting at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the 1965 Declaration of the Second Vatican Council that profoundly transformed interfaith dialogue.
‘A great man, a great shepherd’: Meloni pays tribute to Pope Francis
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said news of Pope Francis’ death was cause for great sadness because of the departure of “a great man, a great shepherd”, Reuters reports.
In a statement, Meloni said:
I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice, his teachings, which never ceased not even during times of trial and suffering.
We say goodbye to the Holy Father with a heart full of sadness.
