ISLAMABAD: Condolences and tributes poured over from across the world over the passing of the head of Catholic Church Pope Francis aged 88.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025
Guided by humility: Friedrich Merz
Germany’s incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday expressed “great sorrow” at Pope Francis’s death, describing him as a man “guided by humility and faith”, according to AFP.
The pope “will remain in our memories for his indefatigable commitment” to “the most vulnerable, for justice and for reconciliation,” he said.
A great man: Giorgia Meloni
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said “a great man has left us” after Pope Francis died on Monday.
“Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s home. It is deeply sad news, because a great man has left us,” Meloni said in a statement, according to AFP.
Iran offers condolences
Iran offered condolences after death of Pope Francis, according to AFP.
Had a sense for others: Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said that throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis had always sided with the most vulnerable and the most fragile, and that he did this with a lot of humility, according to Guardian.
“In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile,” Macron told reporters, according to Guardian.
A man of the people: Dutch premier
Pope Francis was in every way a man of the people, Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof said in a statement on X.
Schoof said: The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them. With his sober way of life, acts of service and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for many – Catholics and non-Catholics alike. We remember him with great respect.
A man of humility: Kiwi premier
Tributes have been made to the Pope, the New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, posted on X: I am saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis. A man of humility, his legacy includes an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue. My thoughts are with Catholics and all those in New Zealand and around the world who mourn his death.
I am saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis.
A man of humility, his legacy includes an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue.
My thoughts are with Catholics and all those in New Zealand and around the world who mourn…
— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) April 21, 2025
May God rest his soul: US vice president
US Vice President JD Vance has posted a tribute on X: I just leaned of the passing of Pope Francis (sic). 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.
I just learned 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…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025
A moral leader: Mitsotakis
In Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Pope Francis will be remembered for his moral leadership.
“Today we join Catholic Christians around the world in their grief for the loss of the religious leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis will be remembered as a moral leader who believed in peace, solidarity and friendship,” Mitsotakis said in a statement, according to Guardian.
Knew how to give hope: Zelensky
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X: Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Francis’s passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church. He 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. Eternal memory!
Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Francis’s passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church.
He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We… pic.twitter.com/Ww6NtsbWWS
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 21, 2025
Led with an open heart: Marcos
According to Guardian, Ferdinand Marcos, president of the Philippines, paid tribute to Pope Francis as a man who led with “wisdom” and an “open heart”: The Philippines joins the Catholic community worldwide in grieving the loss of His Holiness Pope Francis. A man of profound faith and humility, Pope Francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten.
By example, Pope Francis taught us that to be a good Christian is to extend kindness and care to one another. His humility brought many back to the fold of the Church.
As we mourn his passing, we honor a life that brought hope and compassion to so many, and inspired us to love one another as Christ loved us.
It is a profoundly sad day.
Promoted development of dialogue: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his condolences on the death of Pope Francis, the Kremlin said on Monday, according to Reuters.
“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.
Pope for the poor: Starmer
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.
True friend and kindred spirit: Yunus
Bangladesh’s interim government paid its respects to Pope Francis on Monday, with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus praising the late pontiff as a “true friend and kindred spirit”.
According to AFP, Yunus, 84, shared a “profound connection” with Francis, his office said in a statement. The micro-finance pioneer took over as interim leader of Muslim-majority Bangladesh after a mass uprising ousted the government in August 2024.
“Pope Francis was a towering figure of moral clarity, humility, and compassion in our time,” the statement said, detailing how the men had worked together on shared efforts for social justice and care for the natural world.
“His lifelong dedication to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being resonated far beyond the Catholic world,” it said.
“His leadership, rooted in the values of fraternity and service, inspired global efforts to uplift the poor, protect the vulnerable, and build a more humane and peaceful world.”
