Poland bids farewell to Pope Francis
The Polish president and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have stated that they been deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Pope Francis.
Andrzej Duda wrote on the X platform on Monday that Pope Francis had "returned to the home of the Father."
"In his pastoral ministry, he was guided by humility and simplicity," Duda said, adding that the pope was a great apostle of Mercy, in whom he saw the answer to the challenges of the modern world.
"Pope Francis has passed away. A good, warm and sensitive man. May he rest in peace," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on the X platform.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of Pope Francis' passing," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on X.
"The Holy Father united the hearts of millions with his kindness and left an indelible memory of his visit to Poland in 2016. We join with the entire community of the faithful in this difficult time," it said.
"Requiescat in pace," the ministry wrote.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, died on Monday at the age of 88.
His death had been announced by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo.
"At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Cardinal Ferrell said.
Francis had been admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy.
But he made a public appearance on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square. (PAP)
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