'A man of deep faith'. World leaders share condolences over Pope's death

President of France

President of France Emmanuel Macron was one of the first to react to the death of the Pope.

"From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite people with one another and with nature," he wrote on his X.

Macron expressed hope that this hope would continue to be reborn even after him.

"To all Catholics, to a grieving world, my wife and I send our thoughts," Macron added.

US Vice President

US Vice President JD Vance also expressed condolences on the Pope’s death.

"I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," he wrote on X.

He admitted that he was happy to see him yesterday, although "he was obviously very ill."

"But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul," Vance added.

The White House’s X page also posted about the death of the Pope.

Condolences from King Charles

King Charles is deeply saddened by the death of Pope Francis.

“My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry,” he wrote.

The statement adds that the Pope will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church, and his tireless commitment to the common cause of all people of faith and those who work in good faith for the good of others.

“His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,” the statement reads.

The King and the Queen recall meeting His Holiness with affection over the years and were very touched by the opportunity to visit him earlier this month.

“We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ,” the statement concluded.

President of Poland and the Chancellor of Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that with the death of Pope Francis, ", the Catholic Church and the world lose an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person."

"I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face. My sympathies go out to the religious community worldwide," he said on X.

President of Poland Andrzej Duda said that the Pope was "a great apostle of Mercy, in which he saw an answer to the challenges of the modern world."

"Throughout his pastoral ministry, he was guided by humility and simplicity," he noted.

Italian Prime Minister

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that she mourns Pope Francis as a friend who comforted her in difficult times and fulfilled his duty to the end.

“The Pope and I had a more active relationship than was obvious. It went far beyond our institutional roles,” she told Italian state broadcaster RAI.

They met many times, even just to exchange views - he could comfort her in very difficult moments, and she have many memories of the Pope.

“The fact that he is leaving on Easter Monday shows that he wanted to fulfill his duty to the very end,” Meloni added, noting that at their last meeting he looked tired.

She said that the Pope keeps in his desk drawer some artwork that her daughter made for him. She is also proud to have convinced him to become the first pontiff to address the G7 summit in 2024.

President of Israel

The President of Israel also expressed his deepest condolences to Christians in Israel on the loss of Pope Francis.

"A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world," he wrote on X.

According to Isaac Herzog, the Pope considered it very important to deepen ties with the Jewish world and to promote interfaith dialogue as a means of achieving mutual understanding and respect.

"I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered. May his memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, unity, and hope," he added.

Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and New Zealand

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that Pope Francis was in every way a man of the people.

"The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them," he said.

According to him, through his modest way of life, acts of service, and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for many — both Catholics and non-Catholics.

"We remember him with great respect," he added.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also paid tribute to the Pope.

"I am saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis. A man of humility, his legacy includes an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue," he said, adding that his thoughts are with Catholics and all those in New Zealand and around the world who mourn the Pope’s passing.

Illness and death of Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, passed away on April 21 in the Vatican. He was 88 years old. He had faced serious health issues since his youth — at age 21, he suffered from severe pneumonia, after which doctors were forced to remove part of his lung.

In the 2020s, the Pope’s health became increasingly concerning. Due to knee and lower back problems, he had difficulty moving and began using a wheelchair, cane, or walker.

In June 2022, he was forced to postpone trips to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan because of ongoing treatment. At that time, he told Reuters he was ready to resign if he felt he could no longer lead the Church.

In March 2023, he was hospitalized with a respiratory infection, but by April he led Easter Mass. In June that same year, the pontiff underwent surgery to remove a hernia.

In February, Francis was hospitalized again — this time due to bronchitis. He was diagnosed with a polymicrobial respiratory infection and bilateral pneumonia. Starting February 22, his condition significantly worsened due to an asthmatic respiratory crisis. Doctors began blood transfusions and intensive oxygen therapy. The next day, early-stage kidney failure was diagnosed.

On February 28, he experienced bronchospasm and accidentally inhaled vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Despite brief improvement, on March 3 ventilation was resumed due to renewed respiratory failure.

On March 7, the pontiff recorded his first video message in Spanish during his hospitalization. By March 19, his condition had stabilized, and artificial ventilation was no longer needed, although the infection had not fully cleared.

He was discharged on March 23 and returned to a lighter work schedule. The Pope appeared publicly for the first time after his illness on April 6.