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
Former US president Joe Biden has paid tribute to Pope Francis as “the people’s pope”.
He posted on X:
It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased. As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths. He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the People’s Pope – a light of faith, hope, and love.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s has paid tribute to Pope Francis:
I learned with sorrow the death of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic world and President of the Vatican. A respected statesman, Pope Francis was also a spiritual leader who gave importance to dialogue between different faith groups and took the initiative in the face of humanitarian tragedies, especially the Palestinian issue and the genocide in Gaza.
On behalf of myself and my nation, I offer my condolences and sympathies to the family of the deceased, the Vatican State and the Catholic world.
Simon Stiell, the UN’s climate chief, praised Pope Francis as an “unflinching global champion of climate action”.
In a post on X he said:
Pope Francis has been a towering figure of human dignity, and an unflinching global champion of climate action.
His Holiness’ message will live on: There can be no shared prosperity until we make peace with nature and protect the most vulnerable.
Caroline Davies
In the UK, the Union flag will be flown at half-mast at royal residences where King Charles is not in residence.
Sombre music will be played at the Changing the Guard ceremony to reflect “the sadness of the occasion”, a royal source said.
A member of the royal family is expected to attend the Pope’s funeral, if the Vatican is in agreement, but it is too early to say who will travel to pay their respects.
Damian Carrington
Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) of the United Nations said:
Pope Francis dedicated his life to uplifting the marginalized and advocating for the world’s most vulnerable populations. He reminded us that ‘hope’ is an action.
Pope Francis consistently championed the cause of the rural poor, Lario said, recognising their indispensable role in global food security and sustainable development.
Pope Francis often highlighted the paradox that those who produce food are the ones who suffer from hunger, calling for urgent action to support smallholder farmers and rural communities.
Lario added:
IFAD appreciates him as a champion of Indigenous People and an advocate for food security, sustainable agriculture, and the fight against hunger and inequality. He truly cared about the most vulnerable populations.
The Jesuits in Britain have paid tribute to Pope Francis who “shaped the Church in our time”.
In a statement they said:
With heavy hearts, the Jesuits in Britain mourn the death of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, whose leadership has profoundly shaped the Church in our time. His formation within the Society of Jesus instilled in him a gift of discernment, a sense of closeness to God, and a deep commitment to serving the marginalised and the voiceless, which he embodied throughout his ministry.
They added:
He consistently advocated for the dignity of the poor and vulnerable, urging us to be “men and women for others.” His encyclical, Laudato Si’, has inspired us to care for our common home, calling us to confront the ecological crisis with both urgency and compassion—a teaching that has been vital for our Province and has inspired our own commitment to sustainable practices.”
You can read the full statement here.
East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta said the death of Pope Francis was a tremendous loss for the world, not just Christians, Reuters reports.
The 88-year-old pontiff was the first pope to visit East Timor in over 30 years, following John Paul II, whose appearance gave the country’s movement for independence from occupying Indonesia from 1975-1999 a historic boost.
The president of Asia’s youngest, predominantly Catholic nation told Reuters flags in East Timor would be flown at half-mast for one week to honour the late pontiff’s life and a mass would also be held in his honour. “He leaves behind a profound legacy of humanity, of justice, of human fraternity, a tremendous loss for the world, not only for Christians,” he said.
Ramos-Horta praised Francis’ courage to speak out “for the poor, for the weak…against arrogance, against abuse, against wars.”
Severin Carrell
John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, has said Pope Francis was “a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation” and a trailblazer as the first pope from the southern hemisphere.
A church-goer who, while Protestant, accompanies his wife to Catholic mass, Swinney said he was deeply saddened to hear the pope had died.
“His Holiness was outspoken on many of the pressing issues of our time such as climate change, the death penalty and the rise of artificial intelligence. He would regularly engage with world leaders and hold them to account for their words and actions.
“Pope Francis recognised and championed the virtue of compassion and advocated for poor and marginalised communities across the world. He brought comfort, assurance and hope to many.
“I know people will take comfort from the solidarity of their communities at this very difficult time. I share the sorrow of the Catholic community, in Scotland and worldwide, in mourning the loss of His Holiness. May he rest in peace.”
Australian prime minister pays emotional tribute to Pope Francis as a ‘devoted champion’
by Dan Jervis-Bardy and Daisy Dumas
The Australian prime minister has paid an emotional tribute to Pope Francis as a “devoted champion and a loving father” of Catholics in his country, following the death of the pontiff, aged 88.
Anthony Albanese, the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, and church leaders issued statements after news of the pontiff’s death was announced on Monday night.
Speaking in Melbourne, Albanese – who is Catholic – said Francis’ death would be mourned by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
“Today, the prayers of more than a billion people – from all nations and every walk of life – go with Pope Francis to his rest,” Albanese said.
“He urged us to remember all we hold in common, and he asked the world to hear the cry of the earth, our common home.
“He invited world leaders to join him and, to quote him, ‘emerge from the dark night of wars and environmental devastation in order to turn our common future into the dawn of a new and radiant day’.”
As the first pope from the southern hemisphere, the Argentinian was “close to the people of Australia”, Albanese said.
“For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and a loving father,” he said.
Read the full report here:
Rachel Savage
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa offered his “deep condolences” to Catholics in the country and worldwide.
He said in a statement: “Catholics and people of all faiths are saddened today by the passing of a spiritual leader who sought to unite humanity and wished to see a world governed by fundamental human values.
“As the leader of the Church and a global figurehead, Pope Francis advanced a world view of inclusion, equality and care for marginalised individuals and groups, as well as responsible and sustainable custody of the natural environment.”
Thabo Makgoba, the Archibshop of Cape Town and the head of the Anglican church in southern Africa described the Pope as an “incredible, prophetic pastor”.
“On the numerous occasions I and my wife, Lungi, met him, he made you feel as if you were the only person in the world, holding you in his gaze with those piercing, warm and attentive eyes,” he said in a statementreleased by the church.
“For many around the world, including people of all faiths and of none, the distinguishing characteristic of his papacy was how close they felt to him. The last globally-recognised moral voice in our confused times, he gave us clear guidance in a complex and polarised political world.”
Here is a film obituary of Pope Francis, from the Guardian’s video team.
The Vatican has suspended a planned ceremony for the Catholic Church to proclaim the first saint from the millennial generation, it said in a statement on Monday.
Carlo Acutis, an Italian boy who died from leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, was originally set to be made a saint at a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square on April 27 but this has been suspended following the death of Pope Francis.
