As soon as the Vatican officially announced Pope Francis’s death, reactions came in from all sides. UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke of a « messenger of hope, humility and humanity », praising his unwavering commitment to peace and the most vulnerable.
On a visit to Mayotte, French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to « a man who fought for greater justice« , while Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, praised « his humility » and « his pure love for the most disadvantaged », recalling the inspiration he inspired « far beyond the Catholic Church ».
Across the Atlantic, President Donald Trump ordered flags on public buildings to be flown at half-mast, describing the late pontiff as a good man who « loved the world ». His predecessor, Joe Biden, underlined the stature of ‘one of the most important leaders of our time’.
A respected figure beyond the faithful
Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasised the links forged between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church, hailing « constructive cooperation ». In his native Argentina, President Javier Milei, despite past disagreements, stressed ‘his constant appeal to dialogue and to the spirituality of the younger generations’.
Pope Francis’ influence extended beyond the borders of Catholicism. The Dalai Lama expressed his « profound sadness » at the loss of an « artisan of interfaith dialogue ». The Rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris hailed a figure « who never ceased to reach out to Muslims », recalling his role as a bridge-builder in a divided world.
Popular emotion on a global scale
In the hours following the announcement, vigils sprang up on every continent. From Latin America to South-East Asia, the faithful gathered to pray and pay their respects. In East Timor, a week of national mourning was declared, while in Rome, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral in St Peter’s Square.
During more than a decade of pontificate, Francis has left his mark on the history of the Church through his outspokenness, his rejection of luxury, and his progressive positions on the environment, poverty and human brotherhood. He was one of the first to make the climate cause a spiritual priority, linking faith and ecology.
He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, through his humility and his pure love for the poorest of the poor, Ursula von der Leyen
The worldwide emotion generated by his death bears witness to the fact that Pope Francis not only guided Catholics, but also embodied, for many, a universal moral conscience.
