World leaders have mourned the death of Pope Francis hailing him for his servant leadership and a papacy that championed the rights of the downtrodden in the society.

The White House paid tribute to the Pope choosising to share two photos, on X, of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump posing with the pope, and another of Vice President James David Vance greeting a frail Francis. The caption simply read, “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis”.

However, in a separate tweet, United States Vice President JD Vance, joined Christians in mourning the demise of the Pope whom he met yesterday at the Vatican.

Vance and his family attended the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at St. Peter’s Basilica before meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome.

“My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” said VP Vance adding, “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”

Further, Vance cited Pope Francis’ teaching on faith, a homily delivered during the Covid pandemic to encourage the global population in the face of widespread deaths.

United Kingdom monarch, King Charles III, says he is saddened by the death which has occured only thirteen days after he visited the religious figure alongside Queen Camilla to mark twenty years of their marriage.

“His Holiness will be remembered 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, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others,” wrote King Charles in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Church of England has remembered the Pope for his consistency in championing the rights of the poor, migrants and asylum seekers fleeing war in various parts of the world, especially his role in South Sudan.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, says Francis was more than a ‘holy man of God’ but also a true follower of Jesus who was witty and possessed a warm personality that made him likable.

“Francis’s whole life and ministry was centred on Jesus who comes among us not to be served, but to serve,” said Archbishop Cottrell.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed admiration for the Pope’s long devotion to the church and compassion for global minorities, terming his death as a painful one.

“I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development,” remarked Modi.

French President Emmanuel Macron briefly took a moment from his schedule of the ongoing tour of the Pacific region to pay homage to the Pontiff for seeking justice to the world’s “most vulnerable and the most fragile”.

Additionally, European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.

“My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis’ legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful, and compassionate world.

Several other leaders have mourned the passing away of Pope Francis including Prime Ministers Keir Starmer (UK), Giorgia Meloni (Italy), Viktor Orban (Hungary) and Presidents Vladimir Putin (Russia), Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukraine), Olaf Scholz (Germany) and Arab world’s only Christian President Joseph Aoun (Lebanon).

The Vatican says Pope Francis succumbed at 7.35, local time, Monday morning.

While making the announcement two hours after the occurrence, Cardinal Kevin Farrell declared the Pope as a true disciple of Christ and urged the Church to emulate his ways.