AGENCY REPORT
World leaders mourn Pope Francis, hail his legacy of compassion
World leaders remembered Pope Francis as āa beacon of compassionā, reacting with sadness after the leader of the worldās 1.4 billion Catholics died on Monday.
Here are some of the first reactions to the death of the 88-year-old pontiff:
āStood for brotherly mankindā ā France
French President Emmanuel Macron said the Pope had always been āon the side of the most vulnerable and the most fragileā and that he stood for ābrotherly humankindā.
āA great man has left usā ā Italy
āPope Francis has returned to the Fatherās home. It is deeply sad news because a great man has left us,ā Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
āA beacon of compassionā ā India
āPope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,ā Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
āI fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development.ā
āStrong tiesā ā Israel
āHe rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect,ā Israeli President Isaac Herzog said.
āDistinguished papacyā ā Ireland
āPope Francisā long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace and human dignity,ā Irish Prime Minister MicheĆ”l Martin said, adding that he would be remembered for his āexpression of pain and shameā about historic child abuse in the Catholic Church during his 2018 visit to Ireland.
āProfound legacyā ā Spain
āI am sorry to hear of the death of Pope Francis. His commitment to peace, social justice and the most vulnerable leaves a profound legacy. Rest in peace,ā Spanish Prime Minister Pedro SĆ”nchez said.
āIndefatigable commitmentā ā Germany
Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed āgreat sorrowā and described Pope Francis as a man āguided by humility and faithā.
He said the Pontiff āwill remain in our memories for his indefatigable commitment to the most vulnerable, for justice and for reconciliationā.
āA faithful friendā ā Palestinian President
āToday, we lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,ā Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said, noting that the Pope ārecognised the Palestinian state and authorised the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vaticanā.
āLove and compassionā ā Egypt
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said the death of Pope Francis āis a profound loss for the entire world, as he was a voice of peace, love and compassionā.
He added that the Pope āworked tirelessly to promote tolerance and build bridges of dialogue⦠and was a champion of the Palestinian cause, defending legitimate rights and calling for an end to conflictā.
āService to humanityā ā Ethiopia
āMay his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy of compassion, humility, and service to humanity continue to inspire generations to come,ā Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
āA loss for humanityā ā Lebanon
āWe will never forget his repeated calls to protect Lebanon and preserve its identity and diversity,ā Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said.
He called Pope Francisās death āa loss for all humanity, for he was a powerful voice for justice and peaceā who urged ādialogue between religions and culturesā.
āServant leadershipā ā Kenya
āHe exemplified servant leadership through his humility, his unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice, and his deep compassion for the poor and the vulnerable,ā Kenyan President William Ruto said.
āHis strong ethical and moral convictions inspired millions across the world, regardless of faith or background.ā
AFP









