World Leaders Mourn ‘Pope of the Poor’

Global leaders from diverse political backgrounds are uniting in grief following Pope Francis’s death Monday morning at age 88, praising his commitment to the marginalized and his efforts to advance peace and dialogue across religious and cultural divides. The pontiff, known for rejecting the trappings of papal luxury, died one day after appearing frail but determined during Easter celebrations at the Vatican.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced that “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” from the Casa Santa Marta where Francis chose to live throughout his papacy rather than the traditional Apostolic Palace, according to AP News.

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Across Political Divides: Tributes Flow

President Donald Trump, who had a sometimes tense relationship with Francis over immigration policies, offered a concise tribute on social media: “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!” Trump met the pope at the Vatican in 2017, during his first term in office, where the two spoke privately for about 30 minutes, according to Fox News.

Former President Joe Biden, a Catholic, highlighted Francis’s service to the vulnerable: “For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased. 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.”

Former President Barack Obama characterized Francis as “the rare leader who made us want to be better people,” adding that he and Michelle “mourn with everyone around the world — Catholic and non-Catholic alike — who drew strength and inspiration from the Pope’s example.”

Europe and Beyond: International Reactions

French President Emmanuel Macron captured the essence of Francis’s mission in his tribute: “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. May this hope forever outlast him.”

Britain’s King Charles expressed that he and the queen were remembering their meetings with the pope with “particular affection” and for “his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the “millions of people around the world” who will mourn the pope’s passing, noting: “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.”

Home Country Honors Its Native Son

In Argentina, where Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born to Italian immigrant parents in 1936, the government declared seven days of mourning for the country’s most famous son. A special Mass was held in Buenos Aires Cathedral, where Francis had once served as archbishop, with the building adorned with his photo, white flowers, and the blue and white flag of Argentina.

Archbishop Jorge Garcia Cuerva of Buenos Aires, referring to Francis’s time working in the city’s poorest districts, said: “The pope of the poor has left us, the pope of the marginalized.” Francis’s work in these areas had earned him the nickname “slum pope” long before his elevation to the papacy.

Even Argentina’s President Javier Milei, who once called Francis the “devil’s representative on Earth,” posted a conciliatory tribute: “Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honor for me. As President, as an Argentine, and, fundamentally, as a man of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news,” according to USA Today.

From Congressional Address to Personal Transformations

Former House Speaker John Boehner, who invited Pope Francis to become the first pontiff to address a joint session of Congress in September 2015, shared a deeply personal memory from that historic meeting. “Speaker, will you pray for me?” Boehner quoted Francis as asking him. “With those words, Pope Francis changed my life,” Boehner said in a social media post. “He will forever hold a place in America’s history as the first Pope to address a joint meeting of the US Congress, and in hearts across the world for his compassionate stewardship of the Church.”

Vice President JD Vance, who met with Francis the day before his death, shared: “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful.”

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A Final Easter and the Road Ahead

Francis’s Easter Sunday appearance in St. Peter’s Square came after a hospital stay of more than five weeks for treatment of respiratory issues. Despite his frailty, he insisted on participating in the celebrations, blessing thousands before being driven through the crowd in his popemobile.

The Vatican announced that the “rite of ascertainment of death” and placement of Pope Francis’s body in the coffin will take place Monday evening, with his body to be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning “so that the faithful may pray before his mortal remains.”

As mourners gather in St. Peter’s Square and churches around the world toll their bells in remembrance, the process of selecting a new pope will soon begin. Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors who will choose his successor, increasing the possibility that his progressive legacy will continue, though many Vatican experts predict a more moderate figure may emerge.

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