Lyon, France – Bells of a church in mourning. The wealthy people flocked to their feet. Respect for Pope Francis was poured from around the world from the United States and Florida on Monday after the Vatican announced the death of the Pope at the age of 88.
Pope 266 was praised for his groundbreaking steps to honor the poor and vulnerable. They try to end conflicts like the Middle East, Ukraine and Africa. Protect the environment. It guides the Catholic Church towards greater tolerance, especially gays and lesbians. Some critics say he didn’t always go well enough. Others said he went too far.
Many recall his legacy as the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit to reach the pinnacle of the church hierarchy.
From Tallahassee to Washington and around the world, there are some of the prominent reactions from the day after its final release on Easter Sunday.
– President Donald Trump said in a social post on social media platforms: “Pope Francis rests in peace!
– Vice President JD Vance, who met with the Pope on Easter Sunday before traveling to India, said on social media that he “heart went out” to millions of Christians who love him, “He was clearly very sick, but I was happy to see him yesterday.”
– Former President Barack Obama posted on X: “Pope Francis was an unusual leader who wanted us to be better people. In his humility and his gestures he embraced illness, served the homeless, washed away the feet of young prisoners, he shook us from our own responsibility, reminded us that we are bound by God and one’s duty.”
– Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that he and his wife Janet were “grief by the news that Pope Francis has passed away. We pray with Catholics all over the world for this period for the peace of the clergy’s soul and for this time for the Catholic Church. He should rest in peace.”
– Florida Governor Ron DeSantis posted on X that he and his wife Casey were grieving to hear of Pope Francis’ death. Our thoughts and prayers appear in Catholics across Florida and around the world.
– Senator Ashley Moody of Florida said, “Pope Francis has influenced millions of people around the world with his leadership characterized by service and humility. Today (my husband) Justin and I will be joining the Catholic community around the world, lamenting and remembering his missionary life.
– Rick Scott, another Republican US Senator in Florida, posted on X that he and his wife Anne were grieving to hear of Pope Francis’ death. He should rest in peace with God.
– US Attorney General Pam Bondy posted to X.
– King Charles III praised the Pope for his work on the protection of the planet, hinting at their multiple personal meetings, including a personal visit at the Vatican on April 10th. “We were very moved to be able to visit him at the beginning of the month,” Wang wrote in a statement signed to “Charles R.” It was the Pope’s first known meeting with foreign officials after he was hospitalized for five weeks with dual pneumonia.
– In honor of Francis, the church bells that paid in honor of Francis, from the recently reopened Cathedral of Notre Dame to the lonely bells of St. Bartholomew’s Parish in Bulacan, the Philippines, were 88 times, meaning “88 fruitful years of dear Pope Francis.”
– Martin Pendalgast, secretary to London’s LGBT Catholic Westminster, recalls how Francis saw past his sexual orientation and says he will not judge those who have tried to carry out God’s will. “He was the first Pope to actually use the word ‘gay’, so even the way he speaks is a fundamental transformation compared to some of his predecessors, and some would say a bit of a revolution,” Pendalgast said.
– The Conference of Women’s Ordination lamented Frances’ disgust for promoting women’s ordination. “His recurring “closed door” policy on the ordination of women is painfully inconsistent with his otherwise idyllic nature, and for many, the betrayal of the Synodal, the church he has defended, heard,” the conference said. “This has made him a complex, frustrating, and sometimes heart-pounding person for many women.”
– President Emmanuel Macron of France, a predominantly Roman Catholic country, focused on the influence of the Pope on the Church, writing on social media that “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wants to unite humans in the church, uniting himself and nature.”
– Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of the few official visitors to see Francis during his recent hospitalization, said, “Even in the trial and times of suffering, he didn’t fail me.” She added: “We say goodbye to the great man and the great shepherd.”
– Taiwan’s President Leichete expressed his sadness on social media, saying that those there “continue to draw inspiration from peace, global solidarity and lifelong commitment to caring for those in need.” The Holy See is one of Taiwan’s remaining 12 diplomatic allies, with China claiming self-excluded Taiwan as its own territory and poaching others.
– South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pointed to the Pope’s “extraordinary life story,” saying, “Pope Francis has advanced a global view of inclusion, equality and care for marginalized individuals and groups, and has advanced the responsible and sustainable custody of the natural environment.” Africa has seen some of the greatest growth of the Catholic Church in recent years.
– President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission reminded me of clergymen as inspiration not only for Christians but for the whole world. “He inspires millions of people far beyond the Catholic Church, and his humility and love are so pure for the underprivileged,” she told social media. “My thoughts are for everyone who feels this deep loss.”
– Israeli President Isaac Herzog is mostly ritualistic in his role, and is called Francis and the man of “deep faith and endless compassion.” Francis repeatedly criticised Israel’s wartime actions in Gaza, saying that Israel should investigate allegations of genocide that it has defied defied. “I really hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for safe return of hostages will be answered soon,” Herzog told social media.
– The Palestinian Red Crescent expressed sadness to Christians and called the Pope “one of the most prominent supporters of justice and human dignity, including his noble attitude towards suffering and the right to freedom and justice of the Palestinians.”
– President Abdel Fatta Elsisi of Egypt, an overwhelmingly Muslim country, said Francis left behind “a great human legacy that remains engraved in the conscience of mankind.”
– Austrian President Alexander van der Belen recalled how the Pope traveled to Italy’s Lampedusa Island, an important landing site for immigrants about to reach Europe, commemorating those who died while trying to cross the Mediterranean. The Austrian leader said on social media that the influence of the Pope resonated in large and small ways. “He assured that homeless people near St. Peter’s Square would be showered. He criticized the inhuman words and gestures.
– Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the Pope as “a consistent advocate for humanism and high values of justice,” hinting at the Pope’s efforts to promote interfaith dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Last year, the Pope should have the courage to negotiate the end of the war with Russia, and should not be ashamed to sit at the same table and hold a meeting. Critics said he suggested he was with Russia. Francis tried to maintain the Vatican’s traditional diplomatic neutrality during the war, but it often accompanied by clear sympathy for Russia’s rationale for the invasion of Ukraine.
Jamey Keaten by the Associated Press. AP journalists from around the world contributed to this report.
