Pope Francis’ death mourned worldwide as Catholic Church prepares for next chapter
The coffin carrying the pope will be brought to the basilica in a procession Wednesday morning, accompanied by cardinals, from his residence at Casa Santa Marta, where he died on Monday.
The funeral is expected to draw “Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests from across the globe,” the Vatican said. It will also be attended by world leaders and other dignitaries, including President Trump and first lady Melania Trump, who confirmed they are planning to go.
Read more about the funeral plans here.
“Today, our prayers are with all those mourning the passing of Pope Francis,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement. “As the leader of the Catholic Church, he impacted the lives of countless people across the globe. May he rest in peace.”
“Throughout his historic tenure as the first Jesuit and first Latino to lead the Church, Pope Francis dedicated his time on Earth to uplifting the least, the lost and the left behind,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said. “His Holiness truly embodied the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, humbly giving of himself to the poor, the Church and Catholics in all corners of the world.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the pontiff “led a life of faithful witness to the Gospel. He dedicated himself to spreading the Good News with joy, and he will be remembered as a humble servant of God and a man of great compassion for those in need. May he rest in peace and receive his reward.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also mourned the pope, saying: “Pope Francis’ message of hope inspired people around the world — people of all faiths. His compassion and love for the less fortunate was felt in every corner. His papacy will be remembered as a beacon of light and hope against the darkness. My prayers are with the billions of people today who are mourning his loss.”
The Japanese leader said Francis had “dedicated himself to protecting the environment and promoting peaceful diplomacy with a strong voice,” and noted in particular his visit to Japan in 2019 — the first by a leader of the Catholic Church since John Paul II came in 1981.
“The demise of Pope Francis is not only a great loss for the people of Vatican and Catholics, but also for the international community. I would like to express my heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Japan,” said Ishiba.
“Pope Francis also understood that protecting our common home is, at heart, a deeply moral mission and responsibility that belongs to every person. His Papal Encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ was a major contribution to the global mobilization that resulted in the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.”
Francis had understood, the U.N. chief said, “that protecting our common home is, at heart, a deeply moral mission and responsibility that belongs to every person.”
Guterres said the world would be a “much better place if we follow his example of unity and mutual understanding in our own actions.”
“We feel it is important to reach out to you now, even as you continue your physical recovery, which we hope will soon bring you back to us,” the letter said. “We anticipate that some may criticize us for raising this issue while you are still healing. However, when is it ever the right time to discuss the alarming reality of rape and sexual violence against children, which occurs every minute of every hour of every day in this troubled world?”
Read more here.
Mr. Trump said he’d “just signed an executive order” for all U.S. flags on government buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of the late pontiff.
“He was a good man, worked hard, he loved the world, and it’s an honor to do that,” said Mr. Trump.
The president had earlier posted a brief message on social media, saying: “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!”
“With his simplicity, courage and empathy, Francis brought the issue of climate change to the Vatican. He vigorously criticized the economic models that led humanity to produce so many injustices. He showed that this same model is what generates inequality between countries and people. And he always stood by those who need it most: the poor, refugees, young people, the elderly and victims of war and all forms of prejudice,” said Lula.
Declaring an official seven-day mourning period for the Catholic leader in Brazil, Lula said while Francis was gone, “his messages will remain engraved in our hearts.”
Francis, from Argentina, was the first man from Latin America chosen to lead the Catholic Church in the institution’s two-millennia existence.
The Vatican announced that the canonization of Carlo Acutis, originally scheduled for April 27, would be held the following Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, on the occasion of the Jubilee celebration of adolescents.
The late pontiff “advanced a world view of inclusion, equality and care for marginalized individuals and groups, as well as responsible and sustainable custody of the natural environment,” South Africa’s leader said. “His extraordinary life story and ascendancy to the Holy See unfolded with humility and a profound commitment to making the Church and the world a better place for all of humanity.”
Read more here about what happens in the days immediately following the pope’s death, including his funeral and the run-up to the papal conclave.
“His Holiness Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others,” the Dalai Lama said, offering his prayers and condolences to Pope Francis’ followers.
Pope Francis “consistently reveal[ed] by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life. The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can.”
“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” Francis told well-wishers in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday.
Pope Francis makes Easter appearance one day before his death
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“Viva il Papa! [Long live the pope!],” the crowd chanted in response.
Francis then drove around the square in his open-air popemobile, stopping occasionally to bless babies. The pope’s return to work after his near-fatal bout of double pneumonia had been slow, and he had skipped the Good Friday and Holy Saturday services leading up to Easter.
Ukraine has been enmeshed in a brutal war since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.
“We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Eternal memory!” Zelenskyy said.
In a 2024 interview, Francis pleaded for worldwide peace amid the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, telling CBS News “a negotiated peace is better than a war without end.”
POPE FRANCIS: THE FIRST with Norah O’Donnell
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“Please. Countries at war, all of them, stop the war. Look to negotiate. Look for peace,” the pope said, speaking through a translator.
“Pope Francis enjoyed great international authority as a faithful servant of Christian teaching, a wise religious and statesman, and a consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice,” Putin said in the letter, which was written in Russian.
“I had the opportunity to communicate with this outstanding person on many occasions, and I will forever preserve the brightest memories of him,” Putin said.
Meloni said the world would follow Francis’ teachings and “seek the path of peace, pursue the common good and build a more just and equitable society.”
“His teaching and his legacy will not be lost,” said the Italian leader.
“From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest,” Macron said in French. “May this hope continually resurrect beyond him.”
Herzog said Francis had been “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion,” who “dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world,” and had seen “great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual 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,” Herzog said. “May his memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, unity, and hope.”
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, also met with other church officials and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Vatican / Pool
“It was an honor to meet with Pope Francis, Prime Minister Meloni, and Church officials in Italy this weekend,” Vance said on social media overnight Monday. “Visiting Rome with my family during Holy Week was an incredible experience.”
Following news of Francis’ death, Vance wrote: “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though 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.”
Read more here.
In a statement announcing his death, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, said Francis’ “entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”
He led by example, living in a humble room at the Vatican rather than the lavish papal apartments, and demonstrating his compassion by dining with the homeless, washing inmates’ feet, and providing a home in Italy for migrants and refugees.
He also led the Church in its reckoning with years of child sexual abuse, though not always as aggressively as some critics hoped for.
In a 2024 interview with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, Francis said the Church “must continue to do more. Unfortunately, the tragedy of the abuses is enormous. And against this, an upright conscience, and not only to not permit it but to put in place the conditions so that it does not happen.”
Source: cbsnews.com