World leaders remembered Pope Francis as “a beacon of compassion,” reacting with sadness after the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics died on Monday.
“Rest in Peace, Pope Francis,” the US presidency wrote on X, accompanied by photos of the pontiff meeting President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on separate occasions.
Vance, a Catholic convert who just met with the pontiff in the Vatican on Sunday, said his “heart goes out to millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”
“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”
The Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, spent 38 days being treated for double pneumonia in a Rome hospital before seeming to recover and leaving the facility on March 23.
Care for both people and planet
King Charles III said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of Pope Francis, and that he had been “greatly moved” to visit him earlier this month with his wife Queen Camilla.
“Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,” said King Charles, who is also the head of the Church of England.
The Church of England’s most senior cleric hailed Pope Francis’s “desire to lead and build the church in new ways.”
Hailing the deceased pope’s “service of the poor,” Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said Pope Francis was “acutely aware of the divisions between our churches and how they stand in the way of seeing Jesus Christ more fully”.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas paid tribute to Pope Francis, calling him a “faithful friend of the Palestinian people.”
“Today, we lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,” Abbas said, noting that Pope Francis “recognized the Palestinian state and authorized the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised the deceased Pope Francis as “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion.”
“He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect,” Herzog said in a post on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Catholic leader had “prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.”
“We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
‘A great man has left us’
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni added: “Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s home. It is deeply sad news, because a great man has left you.”
Spain will observe three days of mourning to honor Pope Francis, Justice Minister Felix Bolanos said in a televised address.
“We regret the death of a good man and a great pope. Therefore, the government of Spain will declare three days of official mourning,” Bolanos said, praising Francis’ “reformist” 12-year papacy that “will leave a legacy for history.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the late pontiff as a “defender” of “humanism and justice,” and praised his efforts to promote dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic churches.
Lebanon’s Christian President Joseph Aoun called Pope Francis a “dear friend and strong supporter” of the crisis-hit multi-confessional country.
“We will never forget his repeated calls to protect Lebanon and preserve its identity and diversity,” Aoun — the Arab world’s only Christian president — said in a statement on the presidency’s X account, calling Francis’ death “a loss for all humanity, for he was a powerful voice for justice and peace” who called for “dialogue between religions and cultures.”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply pained” by the death of Pope Francis.
“Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” the Hindu-nationalist leader said in a statement. “I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development.”
On the side of the most vulnerable, most fragile
French President Emmanuel Macron also paid homage to Pope Francis, saying he had always been “on the side of the most vulnerable and the most fragile” and fought for “more justice.”
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin hailed Pope Francis’s solidarity with the “poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed.”
“Pope Francis’ long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace and human dignity” said Martin, adding that he would be remembered for his “expression of pain and shame” about historic child abuses in the Catholic Church during his 2018 visit to Ireland.
Iran, a Muslim-majority country which maintains close ties with the Vatican, also offered condolences.
“My colleagues have just informed me of the news… I offer my condolences to all Christians around the world,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said at a press briefing.
Incoming German chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed “great sorrow” and described Pope Francis as a man “guided by humility and faith.”
He said the pontiff “will remain in our memories for his indefatigable commitment” to “the most vulnerable, for justice and for reconciliation.”
Pope Francis “inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
“My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss,” she wrote on X, adding she hopes his “legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world.”
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “World leaders express appreciation for Pope Francis, 88.”
