Here are some of the first reactions to the death of the 88-year-old pontiff:
The Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the social media platform X, recalling the great honour of having welcomed Pope Francis to the country.
While, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Xavier Bettel, also took to the platform.
Following the death of Pope Francis, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg issued a heartfelt message of condolence, on Facebook and Instagram, addressed to His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See.
In his message, the Grand Duke recalled the deep impression left by the pontiff’s recent official visit to Luxembourg and paid tribute to Pope Francis’s legacy as a compassionate spiritual leader committed to justice, inclusion, and the well-being of the world’s most vulnerable.
King Charles III said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of Pope Francis, and that he had been “greatly moved” to visit him earlier this month with his wife Queen Camilla.
“Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,” said King Charles, who is also the head of the Church of England.
US President Donald Trump paid his respects Monday to Pope Francis, writing “Rest in Peace” in a short post on his Truth Social platform.
“Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!” Trump said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday mourned the death of Pope Francis, saying the Catholic leader had “prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.”
“We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
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”.
“Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s home. It is deeply sad news, because a great man has left us,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
“Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
“I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development.”
“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,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said.
“Pope Francis’ long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace and human dignity” Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin said, adding that he would be remembered for his “expression of pain and shame” about historic child abuses in the Catholic Church during his 2018 visit to Ireland.
President of the European commission, Urusla von der Leyen, also shared her condolences, referring to the inspirational qualities of the late pontiff.
“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,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.
Argentine President Javier Milei paid tribute Monday to Pope Francis’s “wisdom” despite the pair’s “differences”, following the pontiff’s death aged 88.
“In spite of differences that today seem minor, to have known him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honor for me,” Milei posted on X.
Putin said Francis, who died on Monday, was a “wise” religious leader, “statesman” and “consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice”, in a letter to the Vatican published by the Kremlin.
“During all the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive interaction between Russia and the Holy See,” Putin added.
The Kremlin leader had met the pope three times -- in 2013, 2015, and 2019.
The last time they spoke was in December 2021 by telephone, Russian state media reported, weeks before Moscow launched its offensive on Ukraine.
The pope had repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine.
In 2016, he met the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, in the first-ever meeting between the heads of the two churches.
That ended with the singing of a joint 10-page declaration, seen at the time as an important milestone in relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox branches of Christianity.
Incoming German chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed “great sorrow” and described Pope Francis as a man “guided by humility and faith”.
He said the pontiff “will remain in our memories for his indefatigable commitment” to “the most vulnerable, for justice and for reconciliation”.
“Today, we lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,” Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said, noting that the pope “recognised the Palestinian state and authorised the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican”.
Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi said the death of Pope Francis “is a profound loss for the entire world, as he was a voice of peace, love and compassion”.
He said the pope “worked tirelessly to promote tolerance and build bridges of dialogue... and was a champion of the Palestinian cause, defending legitimate rights and calling for an end to conflict”.
“May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy of compassion, humility, and service to humanity continue to inspire generations to come,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
“We will never forget his repeated calls to protect Lebanon and preserve its identity and diversity,” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said.
He called Pope Francis’s death “a loss for all humanity, for he was a powerful voice for justice and peace” who urged “dialogue between religions and cultures”.
“He exemplified servant leadership through his humility, his unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice, and his deep compassion for the poor and the vulnerable,” Kenyan President William Ruto said.
“His strong ethical and moral convictions inspired millions across the world, regardless of faith or background.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday said “Thank you for everything, Holy Father. We bid you farewell”, in a short Facebook post following Pope Francis’s death.
The nationalist premier accompanied his message with a photo of one of his meetings with Francis, who praised the Church’s renewal in Hungary while urging Europe to take in more migrants.
