VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. Revered across the world for his humility, compassion, and reformist zeal, his passing marks the end of an era for the Catholic Church. Despite a recent recovery from double pneumonia and a hopeful public appearance during Easter Sunday celebrations, the pontiff's death came unexpectedly.
As preparations begin for the conclave to elect his successor, global attention has turned to the 135 cardinals eligible to vote. Among them are four Indian cardinals: Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão (72), Archbishop of Goa and Daman; Cardinal Baselios Cleemis (64), Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church; Cardinal Anthony Poola (63), Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad and India’s first Dalit cardinal and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad (51), a Vatican diplomat and Archbishop in the Syro-Malabar Church.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences, describing Pope Francis as “a beacon of compassion, humility, and spiritual courage.” Modi also recalled his meeting with the Pope during the G7 summit in Italy. The Government of India has declared a three-day state mourning to honour the Pope’s life and legacy.
World leaders including Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, Keir Starmer, King Charles III, and Vladimir Putin joined in mourning the pontiff’s passing. In his tribute, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the Pope’s death served as a powerful reminder of “his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations, and beliefs.”
King Charles III posted his condolences on X, writing, “His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church, and his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith and goodwill. 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 this month.”
Condolences from Faith Communities
Expressions of sympathy also poured in from spiritual leaders across traditions. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj sent a letter on behalf of the worldwide BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu fellowship, offering heartfelt condolences to the Catholic community.
The letter read, “On behalf of the worldwide BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu fellowship, we extend our deepest condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His departure is a profound loss to the Catholic community and Christians around the world.
“We commend his endeavours to build bridges between different faiths, including his promotion of respect for the Hindu community and other religious traditions. In this time of mourning, we stand in solidarity with you. We share in your sorrow and pray to God and all the divine energies that you find comfort in the legacy of simplicity and compassion that Pope Francis strove to promote. May his vision of a more just and harmonious world continue to inspire us all.”
Pujya Brahmavihari Swami and the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi also shared their sympathies.
Trupti Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain and Trustee of the HFB Charity, said,
“With the passing of Pope Francis, the world has lost a true faith leader who believed deeply in inclusivity. We pray for eternal peace for his soul and hope his commitment to environmental stewardship will continue to inspire future generations.”
The funeral is set to take place on Saturday, 26 April at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST) in front of St Peter’s Basilica, where large crowds are expected to gather to pay their final respects. Several world leaders have confirmed their attendance, including the Prince of Wales, US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
