Global tributes as world leaders mourn Pope Francis death
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The 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis died in the early hours of Monday at the age of 88.
The Vatican announced his demise in a video statement on Monday, ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican’s TV channel.
“At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
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Born in Argentina, he was the first Latin American pope as well as the first non-European to serve for more than 1,000 years.
He was known for his simple words and humble manner that immediately won over the crowds.
After he assumed the papacy in 2013, Francis aimed to make the church more inclusive, opening up key roles to women and trying to address the issue of child sex abuse by Catholic clerics. Analysts, however, remain divided about the success of his efforts.
Francis waves to the faithful as he is driven to his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 23, 2014. [Andrew Medichini/AP Photo]Read also: Ten things to remember about Francis ‘the people’s Pope’
Sri Lankan Hindu priest Kurakkal Somasundaram, right, presents a shawl to Francis during an interreligious meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on January 13, 2015. [Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo]Francis and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, centre left, meet at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba, on February 12, 2016. [Ismael Francisco/Cubadebate via AP]Read also: After a Pope dies, here is the sequence of what happens next
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Francis lifts a child dressed like him as he greets the faithful at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on August 23, 2017. [L’Osservatore Romano via AP]
Francis loses his skull cap as he holds up a cross with Spanish words that read, “I give you my peace,” upon his arrival to meet with young people at the Shrine of Maipu in Santiago, Chile, on January 17, 2018. [Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo]Read also: OBITUARY: Francis, the first Latin American Pope dies at 88
Francis twirls a football he was given by a member of the Circus of Cuba during his weekly general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on January 2, 2019. [Andrew Medichini/AP Photo]
Francis arrives in the popemobile at Ndolo Airport to preside over a Mass in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on February 1, 2023. [Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo]Francis sits with nuns at his weekly general audience at the Vatican on February 5, 2025. [Remo Casilli/Reuters]Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile after the Easter mass, at St Peter’s square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. [Andreas Solaro/AFP]JD Vance speaks to the pope. The US vice-president converted to Catholicism in 2019. Photograph: Vatican Media/AP
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Pope Francis is mobbed by well-wishers as tours St Peter’s Square in his popemobile. Photograph: Angelo Carconi/EPA
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Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.
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![Sri Lankan Hindu priest Kurakkal Somasundaram, right, presents a shawl to Francis during an interreligious meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on January 13, 2015. [Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-23-1.png)
![Francis and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, centre left, meet at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba, on February 12, 2016. [Ismael Francisco/Cubadebate via AP]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-25-1-2.png)
![Francis lifts a child dressed like him as he greets the faithful at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on August 23, 2017. [L'Osservatore Romano via AP]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-26-1-2.png)
![Francis loses his skull cap as he holds up a cross with Spanish words that read, "I give you my peace," upon his arrival to meet with young people at the Shrine of Maipu in Santiago, Chile, on January 17, 2018. [Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-27-1.png)
![Francis twirls a football he was given by a member of the Circus of Cuba during his weekly general audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on January 2, 2019. [Andrew Medichini/AP Photo]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-28-1-2.png)
![Francis coughs during the Angelus noon prayer he recites from the window of his studio overlooking St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 1, 2020. [Andrew Medichini/AP Photo]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-29-1-2.png)
![Francis arrives in the popemobile at Ndolo Airport to preside over a Mass in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on February 1, 2023. [Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-30-1-2.png)
![Francis sits with nuns at his weekly general audience at the Vatican on February 5, 2025. [Remo Casilli/Reuters]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-31-1-2.png)
![Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile after the Easter mass, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. [Andreas Solaro/AFP]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-32-1-2.png)
