Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Pope Francis spent his final days in the service of the church, participating as much as he could in the celebration of Easter, the high point of the Christian calendar.
The Vatican's announcement came as a shock to many, coming a day after the Pope made a high-profile public appearance. Shortly before that, he held a brief meeting with US Vice President JD Vance.
His death triggers a period of mourning, after which all cardinals under the age of 80 will gather to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church. It usually takes two to three weeks to elect a new pope.
Various world leaders from Europe to the US and other continents have reacted to the death of Pope Francis.
"From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope be continually reborn beyond him," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement.
Germany's Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz said that "the death of Pope Francis fills me with great sadness. Francis will be remembered for his tireless commitment to the weakest members of society, to justice and reconciliation," in a statement on X.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a message of condolence, saying in X that the Pope "inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and his love so pure."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply saddened" by the Pope's death. "In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions of people around the world," he said in a statement on X.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his "deepest condolences to the Christian world," remembering the Pope in a statement on X as "a man of deep faith and boundless compassion" who "saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a nationally televised address that all flags would be flown at half-mast on government buildings on Tuesday in tribute to the late Pope. “For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and a loving father,” Albanese said. Pope Francis lived out his faith and calling in word and deed. He was truly inspiring.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Francis was "a pioneer of interfaith harmony, peace and the promotion of humanity", calling his death "an irreparable loss for the entire world".
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Francis' death was "a loss for all humanity, as he was a powerful voice for justice and peace, a defender of the poor and marginalized, and an advocate for dialogue between different religions and cultures."
Malta's President Myriam Spiteri Debono said in a post on X that Francis "will be remembered for his humility, the special attention he paid during his mandate to the poor and marginalized, and his continuous work for international peace and reconciliation between peoples."
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