Vatican pays tribute to a life ‘dedicated to service’ as Pope Francis dies aged 88 a day after final appearance

THE Vatican has led a global rush of tributes to Pope Francis following the announcement if his death at 88 on Monday morning.

Thousands of Christians have around gathered around the world to mourn the loss of their leader and honour his legacy.

Italy has postponed football fixtures, the Eiffel Tower is to go dark, and bells have rung out around the world to mark the sad passing.

World leaders, including King Charles and Sir Keir Starmer, have issued messages of condolence and remembrance.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo and Francis’s Chief of Staff, was the cleric to announce the Pope’s death on Monday morning.

He commended the pontiff’s “life dedicated to service”, and reflected on the lessons he taught Christians around the world.

The Cardinal’s said: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.

“His 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 faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.

“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.″

According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis requested a simple funeral that focused on expressing the faith of the Church.

Ravelli said: “The renewed rite seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, also paid tribute to the late Pope with a lengthy statement.

It included the thoughts: “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.

“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.

“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.”

World leaders pay respects

The Vatican, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, was joined by world leaders paying their respects to Pope Francis.

King Charles said that he and Camilla are “most deeply saddened” by the news.

The Royal, who met the ailing Pope just 12 days ago, remembered Francis 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”.

Sir Keir Starmer toasted “a Pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten”, saying “hope was at the heart of his papacy”.

The leaders of the other two major British political parties joined Starmer, with Kemi Badenoch pointing to the “especially poignant” timing on Easter Monday and Sir Ed Davey praising “a leader of compassion and courage”.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the pope had always been “on the side of the most vulnerable and the most fragile” and that he had stood for “brotherly humankind”.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who met with the Pope whilst he was in hospital, said: “Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s home. It is deeply sad news, because a great man has left us.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said: “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.”

Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof said the world will remember him “with great respect”, and commended his “sober way of life” and “acts of service and compassion”.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: “I am sorry to hear of the death of Pope Francis. His commitment to peace, social justice and the most vulnerable leaves a profound legacy. Rest in peace.”

New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said he was “saddened” by the news and sent his thoughts to Catholics around the world.

Luxon described the passed pontiff as: “A man of humility, his legacy includes an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue.”

The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, said Pope Francis had approached his role with “a unique humility” and championed the importance of human dignity.

Higgins also said Pope Francis had sought to play a “positive role” on issues such as attitudes to women and the LGBT+ community in the Catholic Church.