Pope Francis’ death mourned worldwide as Catholic Church prepares for next chapter

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that millions were mourning the loss of Pope Francis, whom he said “knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity.”

In a message on social media, Zelenskyy said Francis had “prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.” 

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.

Earlier this year 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.”

“Please. Countries at war, all of them, stop the war. Look to negotiate. Look for peace,” the pope said, speaking through a translator. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his “deepest condolences” in a letter to the Vatican published by the Kremlin on Monday.

“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.

The bells at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris rang 88 times on Monday, the AFP news agency reported, to honor the late Pope Francis, who died early in the morning at the age of 88.

The lights on the Eiffel Tower were also set to go dark later on Monday to honor the late pontiff, AFP said.

The ringing of the bells was to be followed by another, full ringing ahead of a mass at the ancient French cathedral in Francis’ honor, scheduled for noon local time, AFP said.

Buckingham Palace released a statement Monday saying King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, “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. His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit 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.”

On a personal note, the statement said the king and queen remembered “with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.”

Charles was greeted by Francis at the Vatican in an encounter that appeared unlikely, as the British royals’ long-scheduled visit to Rome came on the heels of Francis’ most recent, five-week hospitalization. 

King Charles has also suffered health problems recently and is still undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.

The White House posted on social media about Pope Francis’ death, sharing two photos of the late pontiff with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, along with the message: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis,” followed by a cross emoji.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Monday that the news of Pope Francis’ death “saddens us deeply.”

“I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering,” Meloni wrote in a social media post in Italian.

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.

French President Emmanuel Macron honored Pope Francis in a social media post on Monday.

“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.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog sent his “deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel — the Holy Land — on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Frances,” in a social media post on Monday.

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.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday that the world was mourning the death of Pope Francis, who “inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate.”

“My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss,” van der Leyen said in a statement posted on social media. “May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis’ legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world.”

Vice President JD Vance met Pope Francis on Easter Sunday during a three-day family visit to Rome.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, also met with other church officials and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

“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.”

Pope Francis died Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican said. He died almost a month after he was released from a Rome hospital where he was treated for five weeks for a respiratory infection that worsened into pneumonia.

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.”

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, he was ordained as a priest in 1969, rising to become a Jesuit leader and Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.

When he was elected pope in 2013 — the first ever from the Americas — he chose to name himself after Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Italy, known for his simplicity and humanity. Pope Francis often said he wanted “a poorer Church” and one that would “include the excluded.”

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.

The 88-year-old pontiff will leave a legacy as a relatively progressive pope. He sought to make the Catholic Church more inclusive, welcoming more women into leadership roles (though not the priesthood) and reaching out to LGBTQ people, famously saying, “Who am I to judge?” In doing so, he drew backlash not only from conservatives, but also liberals who argued he wasn’t going far enough or fast enough to reform the two-millennia-old institution. 

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.”