French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying: “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. May this hope be resurrected unceasingly beyond him,” Macron said in a statement.
Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz said “the death of Pope Francis fills me with great sadness. Francis will be remembered for his tireless commitment to the weakest members of society, to justice and reconciliation,” in a statement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a message of condolences, saying the pope “inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply pained” by the passing of the pope. “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 said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his “deepest condolences to the Christian world,” remembering the pope as “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion” who “saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a national televised address that all flags would fly at half-staff on government buildings Tuesday as a sign of respect for the late pontiff. “For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and loving father,” Albanese said. “Pope Francis lived out his faith and vocation in word and deed. He was truly inspirational.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Francis was “a man of humility, his legacy includes an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue.”
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Francis was “a pioneer of interfaith harmony, peace, and the promotion of humanity,” calling his passing “an irreparable loss to the entire world.”
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said Francis’ death was “loss for all humanity, as he was a powerful voice for justice and peace, a champion of the poor and marginalized, and an advocate for dialogue between various religions and cultures.”
Malta’s President Myriam Spiteri Debono said that Francis “will be remembered for his humility, the particular attention he gave during his term to the poor and marginalized, and his continuous work for international peace and reconciliation between peoples.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk paid tribute to the pope on X, calling him a “good, warm and sensitive man.”
