Ellise Shafer
Whoopi Goldberg, JD Vance and more have paid tribute to Pope Francis
after the Catholic Church leader died on Monday at the age of 88.
Vatican officials confirmed the Pope’s death, with Cardinal Kevin
Farrell saying in a statement: “His entire life was dedicated to the
service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values
of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially
for the poorest and most marginalized.”
Francis had been experiencing health issues lately, having been
hospitalized in February with bronchitis, which led to double pneumonia
and several respiratory crises. However, he was released from the
hospital on March 23 and came out of convalescence on Easter Sunday to
bless thousands of people on St. Peter’s Square.
Goldberg, who met the Pope in 2023 and again last year, wrote on
Instagram that “he was the closest in a long time that seemed to
remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and none [sic] believer.
He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope
Frances [sic] with your love of humanity & Laughter.”
Russell Crowe, who met Pope Francis in 2014, paid tribute on X alongside
a photo of the Rome skyline. “A beautiful day in Rome, but a sad day for
the faithful,” he wrote. “RIP Francis.”
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who met with Francis on Easter Sunday and
was the last government official to visit him, wrote on X that his
“heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who
loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously
very ill.”
“But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very
early days of COVID,” he added, linking to a prayer the Pope presided
over in March 2020. “It was really quite beautiful.”
The White House’s official X account then posted photos of Trump and
Vance with the Pope alongside the caption, “Rest in Peace, Pope
Francis.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla were also among the pope’s last
high-profile visitors, having met with Francis two weeks ago. In a
statement issued by Buckingham Palace (via the BBC), the King said that
he and Camilla are “deeply saddened” by his death.
“Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His
Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the
world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry,”
the statement continued. “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. His belief that care for
Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so
many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and
planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also remembered Pope Francis, writing
on his social media: “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the
Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. May it unite people with
each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him.
My wife and I send our thoughts to all Catholics and to the grieving
world.”
