Leaders from across the globe have commented following the death of Pope Francis, reflecting on a papacy which was felt by billions in ever corner of the world.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia
Pope Francis embraced all humanity, he will be mourned by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
He was very much a modernist. For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and loving father.
Flags from the Commonwealth Government of Australia will fly at half-mast as a sign of respect.
Peter Dutton, Leader of the Opposition of Australia
His Holiness, Pope Francis, served God with the utmost devotion throughout his life.
He lived frugally and simply. Above all else, he was driven by Christ’s values of mercy and forgiveness.
King Charles III, King of the United Kingdom
"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.
"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.
"The Queen and I remember 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. 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."
President Donald Trump, President of the United States
"Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!"
"[He was] a very good man who loved, loved the world, and he especially loved people that were having a hard time, and that's good with me."
"Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!"
President Javier Milei, President of Argentina
"It is with profound sorrow that I learned this sad morning that Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, passed away today and is now resting in peace. Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honour for me."
"As President, as an Argentine, and, fundamentally, as a man of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Francis’s passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church.
He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Eternal memory!
President Emmanuel Macron, President of France
"From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite Humans with each other and with nature. May this hope perpetually rise beyond him.
"To all Catholics, to the grieving world, together with my wife, we turn our thoughts."
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
Pope Francis was very strong-minded. He said what he thought. He encouraged other people to say what they thought, and he was not afraid of disagreement. Alongside that strong-mindedness, I also found in him an immense sensitivity to individuals.
Another great characteristic of Pope Francis was his Jesuit inheritance, tradition, and soul. This meant that he always had an eye for what brings people closer to God, and how that is to be discerned and judged. He always asked us to look at whether these steps, which are possible for this person, might bring them closer to God. Not the complete journey, but as a step on the way.
There’s no doubt his impact on the Church going forward has been tremendous. It’s not as if he tried to impose, he tried to draw out from this great, rich, worldwide community of the Church, to whom he was a pastor, steps that will get us closer to God. May he rest in peace.
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury
"‘Let us walk together, work together, pray together.’ These are the words Pope Francis said to me when we met in 2023. They sum up his vision for the church, both the Roman Catholic Church but also ecumenically. Francis’s whole life and ministry was centred on Jesus who comes among us not to be served, but to serve. We saw that compellingly in Francis’s service of the poor, his love of neighbour especially the displaced, migrant, the asylum seeker, his deep compassion for the well-being of the earth and his desire to lead and build the church in new ways. Francis showed us how to follow Jesus and encouraged us to go and do likewise.
"His encyclicals, writings and teachings, were supported by his deeds and actions. In their humility and focus on those in the margins, those actions, his whole life, was instantly recognisable as those of one who followed Jesus.
"Pope Francis was acutely aware of the divisions between our churches and how they stand in the way of seeing Jesus Christ more fully. I remember the powerful work the Pope did with the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland in promoting peacebuilding in South Sudan.
"He was a listening Pope whose commitment to the principle and the process of synodality will be a permanent legacy to the Roman Catholic Church and to all of us.
"I remember, in the brief times I spent with him, how this holy man of God was also very human. He was witty, lively, good to be with, and the warmth of his personality and interest in others shone out from him.
"May he rest in peace and rise in glory."
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy
It is extremely sad news because a great man has left us.
Prime Minister James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
His visit here to the country’s capitol and a jungle outpost inspired a nation that has long felt forgotten. He reminded us to care for the vulnerable, to act justly, and to walk humbly with God.
President Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria
The Lord called him home – making the world lose its most Trenchant voice for justice and action against climate change.
Tibet’s Spiritual Leader the Dalai Lama
Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others – consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life.
Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General
Pope Francis was a transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice.
He leaves a legacy of faith, service, and compassion for all – especially those left on the margins or trapped by the horrors of conflict.
President Isaac Herzog, President of Israel
He was a man of deep faith and boundless compassion. He 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.
President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority
The late pontiff was a faithful friend of the Palestinian people. He authorised the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan
He dedicated himself to protecting the environment and promoting peaceful diplomacy with a strong voice. His death is not only a great loss for the people of the Vatican and Catholics, but also for the international community.
President Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon
He was a dear friend and strong supporter. Francis’s death is a loss for all humanity, for he was’ a powerful voice for justice and peace, and had called for dialogue between religions and cultures.
President Vladimir Putin, President of Russia
He was a wise and religious leader, and a statesman and consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice who actively promoted dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.