Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, passed away at 88 in Rome, the Vatican confirmed Monday, April 21. Elected in 2013, he had been hospitalised for a week with pneumonia and a severe lung infection.
Several world leaders took to social media to pay their tributes to the beloved Catholic leader. Recalling his last meeting with the Pope, Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi also took to X (formerly Twitter) to offer his condolences.
"Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world," he wrote.
Have a look at his tweet here:
US Vice President JD Vance, who is currently visiting India, also took to social media to pay his tribute.
"Europe mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His contagious smile captured millions of people’s hearts across the globe. ‘The People’s Pope’ will be remembered for his love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality & social justice. May he rest in peace," he wrote in his tweet.
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The tragic news of his demise comes after his surprise appearance on Easter Sunday, where he greeted over 35,000 people at the St Peter’s Square, his most notable public outing since battling a serious case of double pneumonia.
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis faced multiple health challenges.
