US President Donald Trump on Monday paid his respects to Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 earlier in the day, and wrote “rest in peace” in a short post on his Truth Social platform.
"Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Trump said.
The Pope had recently Trump administration’s deportation policies and urged Catholics to reject anti-immigrant narratives, in an unusually direct attack on the American government.
Pope Francis, an energetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, died on Monday aged 88, just a day after greeting delighted worshippers after Easter Mass.
The death of the Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, came less than a month after having been released from hospital following a 38-day battle with double pneumonia.
Some visitors to St Peters Square -- where a frail-looking Francis was cheered by Easter Sunday worshippers during an unscheduled appearance just a day earlier -- were left in tears at the news.
World leaders paid tribute to his moral and spiritual leadership and countries began preparations to mark his death.
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