Pope Francis is dead at the age of
88, the Vatican said Monday.
The 88-year-old Argentine pontiff, who became pope in March
2013, had recently spent 38 days in hospital fighting
life-threatening pneumonia.
He had been minimally involved in Easter rites spurring hopes he
was on the mend though had not delivered keynote speeches
himself.
Card. Kevin Farrell announced the death saying:
"At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to
the house of the Father.
"His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and
His Church.
"He taught us to live the values ;;of the Gospel with fidelity,
courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest
and most marginalized.
Tributes flowed in from Italian officials including President
Sergio Mattarella, Premier Giorgia Meloni, and Foreign Minister
Anrtonio Tajani, from Italian bishops chief Cardinal Matteo
Zuppi, and on the world stage from European Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Russian President Vladimir Putin,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, King Charles of Britain,
British Prime Minister Keith Starmer, Argentine President Javier
Milei, European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde, US Vice
President JD Vance, and Iran.
Mattarella said: "I learned with great personal pain the news of
the death of Pope Francis, feeling the serious void that is
created by the loss of the point of reference that he has always
represented for me. "The death of Pope Francis arouses pain and
emotion among Italians and throughout the world. His teaching
has recalled the evangelical message, solidarity among men, the
duty of closeness to the weakest, international cooperation,
peace in humanity. Gratitude towards him must be translated with
the responsibility to work, as he has constantly done, for these
objectives".
Meloni said: "The whole world will remember Francis for being
the Pope of the people, the Pope of the least ones".
"I will miss him too, we had an extraordinary personal
relationship, he was a pontiff with whom you could talk about
everything, he was very special...a great man and a great
shepherd has left us.
"I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and
his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and
suffering.
"And he asked the world, once again, for the courage to change
direction, to travel a path that "does not destroy, but
cultivates, repairs, protects.
"We will walk in this direction, to seek the path of peace,
pursue the common good and build a more just and equitable
society. His teaching and his legacy will not be lost."
The president of the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI), Cardinal
Zuppi, said Francis's death was
"a painful moment and of great suffering for the entire Church."
"We entrust our beloved Pope Francis to the Lord's embrace, in
the certainty, as he himself taught us, that 'everything is
revealed in mercy; everything is resolved in the merciful love
of the Father'.
Von der Leyen wrote on X: "He inspired millions, far beyond the
Catholic Church, with his humility and his pure love for those
less fortunate. My thoughts are with all who feel this profound
loss. May they find comfort in the knowledge that Pope Francis'
legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just,
peaceful and compassionate world."
Macron wrote on X: "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis
wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite
men with each other and with nature. May this hope always be
resurrected beyond him.
Merz said Francis's actions had been guided by "humility and
faith".
Putin said Francis had been an extraordinary person, and a
Kremlin spokesman said Putin and Francis "had great respect for
one another".
Zelensky said. "He knew how to give hope, alleviate suffering
through prayer and promote unity.
"He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.
"We mourn together with Catholics and all Christians who sought
spiritual support in Pope Francis. Eternal memory!"
King Charles III, who is head of the Anglican Church, paid
homage to Francis, recalling his "compassion" and ecumenical
commitment in a message released by Buckingham Palace also on
behalf of Queen Camilla.
Two weeks ago, the royal couple met Francis on a private visit
to the Vatican on the sidelines of their trip to Rome.
Starmer said Francis "promoted a more equal world" and his
efforts will have "a lasting legacy", adding that "his
leadership in a complex and challenging period for the world and
the Church has been courageous, but has always sprung from a
deep humility".
Milei said on X: "Despite the differences that today seem minor,
having been able to have known him in his goodness and wisdom
was a true honor for me."
Lagarde said that Francis's wisdom had touched lives beyond
faith.
Vance, a practising Catholic who met Francis in the Vatican over
Easter, said: "I was happy to see him yesterday, even though he
was very sick. But I will always remember him for his homilies
in the early days of Covid. He was truly wonderful."
An Iranian spokesman voiced condolences.
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