Global tributes pour in to honor Pope Francis after his death

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press LYON France AP Church bells tolled in mourning Well-wishers flocked into pews Tributes to Pope Francis poured in from around the world on Monday after the Vatican declared the pontiff s death at age The th pope was praised for his groundbreaking approaches to honor the poor and the vulnerable seek to end conflicts like those in the Middle East Ukraine and Africa protect the milieu and guide the Catholic Church toward greater tolerance of gays and lesbians among other things Particular critics say he didn t perpetually go far enough Others noted he went too far Various recalled his legacy as the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit to reach the pinnacle of church hierarchy one who stressed humility over hubris for a Church beset with embarrassment and indifference Here s a look at particular of the global reactions a day after his last citizens appearance on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St Peter s Square A shop owner places a black ribbon over a photo of the late Pope Francis after the news of his death at age in Bethlehem West Bank on Monday April AP Photo Mahmoud Illean A Catholic nun prays in front of a cutout of Pope Francis in Yogyakarta Indonesia Monday April AP Photo Slamet Riyadi A person lights a candle at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral following the announcement by the Vatican of the death of Pope Francis aged in Liverpool England Monday April Peter Byrne PA via AP Church workers prepare an ornament depicting Pope Francis ahead of a mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption which was visited by Pope Francis in in Jakarta Indonesia Monday April AP Photo Achmad Ibrahim A parishioner kisses a painting of the late Pope Francis at the Bas lica de San Jos de Flores where he worshipped as a youth following the Vatican s announcement of his death in Buenos Aires Argentina Monday April AP Photo Gustavo Garello Devotees pray during a mass for the late Pope Francis at the Cubao Cathedral in Quezon city Philippines Monday April AP Photo Aaron Favila Devotees pray during a mass for the late Pope Francis at the Cubao Cathedral in Quezon city Philippines Monday April AP Photo Aaron Favila Show Caption of A shop owner places a black ribbon over a photo of the late Pope Francis after the news of his death at age in Bethlehem West Bank on Monday April AP Photo Mahmoud Illean Expand U S Vice President JD Vance who met with the pope on Easter Sunday before traveling to India wrote on social media that his heart goes out to the millions of Christians who loved him and mentioned I was happy to see him on the previous day though he was obviously very ill King Charles III praised the pope for his work on safeguarding the planet and alluded to their multiple personal meetings including a private visit on April at the Vatican We were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month the King wrote in a announcement signed Charles R It was the pope s first known meeting with a foreign dignitary after he was hospitalized for five weeks with double-pneumonia Church bells tolled in honor of Francis from the in the past few days reopened Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to a lone bell at the St Bartholomew Parish in Bulacan in the Philippines that was rung times to signify the fruitful years of our dear Pope Francis the parish wrote on social media Martin Pendergast secretary of the LGBT Catholics Westminster in London recalled how Francis looked past sexual orientation and declared he wouldn t judge people who tried to carry out the will of God He was the first pope to certainly use the word gay so even the way he speaks has been a radical transformation and particular would say a bit of a revolution as well compared with a few of his predecessors Pendergast commented The Women s Ordination Conference lamented Francis unwillingness to push for the ordination of women His repeated closed door guidelines on women s ordination was painfully incongruous with his otherwise pastoral nature and for countless a betrayal of the synodal listening church he championed the conference explained This made him a complicated frustrating and sometimes heart-breaking figure for numerous women President Emmanuel Macron of France a largely Roman Catholic country focused on the pope s impact on the church writing on social media that from Buenos Aires to Rome Pope Francis demanded the Church to bring contentment and hope to the poorest For it to unite humans among themselves and with nature May this hope forever outlast him Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni one of the scant official visitors to see Francis during his new hospitalization alluded to the pope s personal comfort and advice saying it never failed me not even in times of trial and suffering She added We are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd Taiwan s President Lai Ching-te expressed condolences on social media and noted people there would continue to draw inspiration from his lifelong commitment to peace global solidarity and caring for those in need The Holy See is among Taiwan s only remaining diplomatic allies while China which alleges self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory has been poaching others South African President Cyril Ramaphosa noted the pope s extraordinary life story and mentioned Pope Francis advanced a world view of inclusion equality and care for marginalized individuals and groups as well as responsible and sustainable custody of the natural circumstances Africa has seen chosen of the Catholic Church s biggest progress in new years European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recalled the pontiff as an inspiration for the entire world not just Christians He inspired millions far beyond the Catholic Church with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate she stated on social media My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss Israeli President Issac Herzog whose role is mostly ceremonial called Francis a man of deep faith and boundless compassion Francis repeatedly criticized Israel s wartime conduct in Gaza and stated statements of genocide which Israel has adamantly denied should be investigated I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered Herzog revealed on social media The Palestine Red Crescent offered condolences to Christians calling the pope one of the the majority prominent supporters of justice and human dignity including his noble stances regarding the suffering of the Palestinian people and their right to freedom and justice President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt an overwhelmingly Muslim country noted Francis leaves behind a great human legacy that will remain etched in the conscience of humanity President Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria recalled how the pope traveled to the Italian island of Lampedusa a key landing point for displaced persons seeking to reach Europe to meet with refugees and commemorate those who died while trying to cross the Mediterranean The Austrian leader stated on social media that the pope s impact resonated in techniques large and small He ensured that homeless people near St Peter s Square could shower He criticized dehumanizing words and gestures That was Pope Francis President Vladimir Putin of Russia hailed the pope as a consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice and alluded to the pontiff s efforts to foster interfaith dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches Last year the pope suggested Ukraine should have the courage to negotiate an end to the war with Russia and not be ashamed to sit at the same table to carry out talks Critics disclosed that suggested he was siding with Russia Francis tried to maintain the Vatican s traditional diplomatic neutrality during the war but that often was accompanied by apparent sympathy with Russia s rationale for invading Ukraine like when he declared NATO was barking at Russia s door with its eastward expansion AP journalists from around the world contributed to this overview