Pope Francis: The world loses a “sign of hope”

“This morning at 7:35 a.m., the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the father’s house.” With these words, Cardinal has died that Pope Francis (1936-2025) died at the age of 88. Shortly after becoming known, numerous people spoke up to say goodbye to the Holy Father and appreciate the deceased.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (69) described Pope Francis in a condolence letter as a “credible witness of the Christian message, which was particularly important to the lived practice of faith”. With Francis, the world loses “a shining sign of hope, a credible lawyer of humanity and a convincing Christian. His modesty, his spontaneity and his humor, but above all his noticeably deep faith, have touched people around the world – and gave support. […] Francis was a man of peace. “

“With Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world lose a advocate of the weak, a reconciler and warm -hearted person,” wrote Chancellor Olaf Scholz (66). “I very much appreciated his clear view of the challenges that deal with us. My sympathy applies to the faithful worldwide.”

The designated Chancellor Friedrich Merz (69) fulfills Francis’ death “with great grief” ,. “Francis will be remembered for his tireless efforts for the weakest of society, for justice and reconciliation.” The deceased was guided by humility and belief in God’s mercy.

“With the death of Pope Francis, the church loses a great pope, a prudent shepherd and a courageous renewer of the church order,” Bishop Dr. Georg Bätzing (64), chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, cited in a first shorter message. One bowed in deep grief “in front of a Pope, to whom it was a matter of being among the people and going to the edges of society”.

“Today the world mourns the end of the late Pope Francis,” writes EU Commission President. “Far beyond the Catholic Church”, Francis inspired millions of people, with “humility and his pure love for the less happy”. In thoughts, she is in all people who feel the difficult loss: “May the idea donate to them that the legacy of Pope Francis will continue to lead us to a fairer, more peaceful and more compassionate world.”

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog (64) as a “man with deep faith and limitless sympathy”, who devoted his life to the support of the poor “and the call for peace in a troubled world”. “May his memory continue to inspire goodness, unity and hope.”

“I have just experienced from the death of Pope Francis. My heart is with the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” writes US Vice President JD Vance (40), who had briefly hit the Pope on Easter Sunday. “I was happy to see him yesterday, even though he was obviously very sick. But I will always remember the following sermon, which he kept from Covid in the early days. It was really very nice.” From the White House: “Pope in peace, Pope Francis.”