Italian President Sergio Mattarella
on Tuesday visited the chapel of the Santa Marta residence
inside the Vatican, where the body of Pope Francis is lying
after his death on Monday, to pay his respects.
The Head of State was accompanied by his daughter Laura.
On Monday Mattarella said he felt a great void after the death
of the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff.
In a statement, the Italian head of State 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".
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