Tributes pour in for Pope Francis, voice for 'the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten'
Cardinal announces pontiff's death, praises his support for the 'most marginalized'
Tributes to Pope Francis instantly poured in from around the world — from presidents to people of all walks of life — on Monday after the Vatican announced the pontiff's death at 88.
President Emmanuel Macron of France, a country that is largely Roman Catholic, focused on the Pope's impact on the church, writing on X: "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him."
In the U.K., King Charles said he and his wife, Queen Camilla, were "deeply saddened" by the news and that Francis will be remembered 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, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others."
Charles, head of the Church of England, which split from Rome in 1534, was accompanied by his wife as they met with Pope Francis at the Vatican earlier this month.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the Pope's "tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy."
"His leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was often courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility," Starmer said.
He called Francis "a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Francis "a shepherd of deep moral clarity, spiritual courage, and boundless compassion" and someone who reminded the world that "ecological degradation and social injustice are deeply intertwined."
In July 2022, Pope Francis visited Canada, where he said he was "deeply sorry" for harms suffered by Indigenous children at church-run residential schools.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak issued a statement Monday on Facebook, thanking the pontiff for his apology and his life's work.
"He listened to us and heard us. He invited us to the Vatican and apologized. It was monumental in our history with the Catholic Church," she said in a separate statement.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said in a statement Monday that his apology was "a testament to his commitment to respect, dialogue and collaboration across cultures and faiths — values he held dear throughout his papacy."
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi praised Francis for speaking up "relentlessly — for the poor, the persecuted, the victims of war, the refugees, the migrants."
"He spoke of the dignity and humanity of all people, including migrants and all those displaced by violence. May he rest in peace and his example and determination inspire us all," said Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who announced the Pope's death on the Vatican's TV channel, said Francis had "universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was one of the few official visitors to see Francis during his recent hospitalization, alluded to the Pope's personal comfort and advice for her, saying, "I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering."
Francis's death, she said, "deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd."
Remembered for his humility
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recalled the pontiff as an inspiration for the entire world, not just Christians.
"He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate," she wrote on X. "My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis' legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world."
As crowds flocked to St. Peter's Square, well-wishers worldwide laid flowers at churches — many of whose bells tolled in honour of Francis, including at the recently reopened Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
'Boundless compassion'
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whose role is mostly ceremonial, offered condolences and called Francis a man of "deep faith and boundless compassion."
"I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered," Herzog posted on X, referring to the Pope's repeated calls for an end to the war and the release of captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Francis had repeatedly criticized Israel's wartime conduct and said allegations of genocide, which Israel has adamantly denied, should be investigated.
On social media, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hailed Francis for focusing on the world's most vulnerable; Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted a photo of himself on X with the Pope, both smiling, and called Francis a "kind, warm and compassionate person." Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that Francis "was in every way a man of the people."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said in a statement that Francis leaves behind "a great human legacy that will remain etched in the conscience of humanity" and called him "an exceptional global figure who dedicated his life to serving the values of peace and justice."
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris praised Francis's advocacy for the poor, and calls for improved interfaith relations and a focus on protecting the environment that made him "a beacon of hope and a voice for the voiceless."
But some critics voiced frustration, with the Women's Ordination Conference lamenting Francis's unwillingness to push for the ordination of women.
"His repeated 'closed door' policy on women's ordination was painfully incongruous with his otherwise pastoral nature, and for many, a betrayal of the synodal, listening church he championed," the conference said. "This made him a complicated, frustrating, and sometimes heart-breaking figure for many women."
Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA), an international group advocating for a zero-tolerance policy on clergy abuse, issued a statement Monday, calling Francis "a symbol of hope and renewal within the Catholic Church."
However, ECA also said his papacy "fell short of delivering the decisive action needed to confront the Church's ongoing abuse crisis" — and that "words without action ring hollow."
Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.
The Vatican announced that Francis, the 266th pope, died Monday morning — a day after his last public appearance on Easter Sunday when he blessed thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.
He also made a surprise trip through the piazza in the popemobile, drawing wild cheers and applause.
The Vatican says the general public likely can begin paying final respects on Wednesday in St. Peter's Basilica. The date will be confirmed when cardinals gather Tuesday morning for the first time after Francis's death.
Francis's coffin will be moved from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing. In a change ordered by Francis, his body will no longer be placed on an elevated bier in the basilica. Rather, the wooden coffin will be placed facing the pews.
A funeral date hasn't yet been announced. It must be held between four and six days after a pope dies.
With files from CBC News