Pope Francis will be remembered as “a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage,” India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday, as tributes for the pontiff continued.
“From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden,” Modi’s statement read in part.
He added, “For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope. I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God’s embrace.”
The president of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto, said the pontiff had “exemplified servant leadership through his humility.”
He added, “We join the Catholic Church and the global Christian community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. This is a big loss to the Catholic faithful and the Christian world. Pope Francis will be remembered for a life dedicated to serving the Lord, the Church, and humanity.”
A nun prays at St Peter’s square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican on April 21, 2025. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement.
Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images
Prime Minster Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom echoed those thoughts, praising Francis’ “tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy.”
“Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis,” Starmer said in a statement released by his office. “His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church.”
Faithful react to the news of Pope Francis’ death in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Monday, April 21, 2025.
Mauro Scrobogna/AP
And in Germany, the current and incoming chancellors released statements.
Olaf Scholz, the current leader, said: “With the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world lose an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person. I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face. My sympathies go out to the religious community worldwide.”
And Friedrich Merz, the incoming chancellor, said Francis will be remembered for “his tireless dedication to the weakest in society.”
“The death of Pope Francis fills me with great sadness. Francis will be remembered for his tireless dedication to the weakest in society, for justice and reconciliation,” Merz continued. “Humility and faith in God’s mercy guided him. In doing so, the first Latin American on the Holy See touched people worldwide and across denominational boundaries. My thoughts are with the faithful around the world in these hours, who have lost their Holy Father. May he rest in peace.”
-ABC News’ Somayeh Malekian, Zoe Magee and Dragana Jovanovic
