Pope Francis Dies at 88, Tributes Pour In

Pope Francis Dies at 88, Tributes Pour In

Poland

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced Monday. His passing was confirmed by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, who said the Pope “returned to the home of the Father” at 7:35 a.m., after a life devoted to serving the Church, CE Report quotes PAP

Francis had been hospitalized on February 14, 2025, with a severe respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days in Gemelli hospital, though he made a brief public appearance on Easter Sunday.

Tributes followed swiftly from world leaders. Polish President Andrzej Duda described him as a humble and simple shepherd, calling him “a great apostle of Mercy.” Prime Minister Donald Tusk called him “a good, warm and sensitive man.”

Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed sorrow, recalling his 2016 visit and the impact he had on millions. “Requiescat in pace,” the ministry wrote.

Tags

Related articles

Poland Reinstates Border Checks
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania will be reinstated starting Monday, July 7.
Poland Arms FA-50 Jets, Signs New Defense Deals
Poland’s FA-50 jets, purchased from South Korea in 2022, are now fully armed and ready for combat, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on Monday.
Tusk Warns of Border Checks Amid Migrant Concerns
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Monday that the government had invested significant resources — including "effort, money, sweat, and unfortunately some blood" — to secure the eastern border with Belarus.
Poland Ends EU Presidency with Key Gains
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Council President Antonio Costa, praised Poland’s achievements as it concludes its six-month EU presidency on June 30.
NATO Sets Higher Defense Spending Goals
At the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday, alliance members agreed to significantly raise defense spending targets following a push by outgoing Polish President Andrzej Duda and strong support from former US President Donald Trump.
Duda Defends NATO Unity
Polish President Andrzej Duda responded Wednesday to remarks by former U.S.
EU-Mercosur Deal Faces Pushback
The EU's long-running negotiations on a trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc — comprising Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay — are meeting fresh resistance from key member states.
Duda Backs US Strikes on Iran
Polish President Andrzej Duda voiced strong support for recent US strikes on Iran, calling them “very determined” and “simply necessary,” particularly regarding the Fordo nuclear facility.
Zelensky Assassination Plots Foiled
Ukrainian security services thwarted two assassination attempts on President Volodymyr Zelensky, including a plot at Poland’s Rzeszow airport, according to Ukraine’s SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk.
PiS Rallies Ahead of 2027 Election
On Sunday, Poland’s conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) held a rally in Pultusk to mobilize supporters ahead of a planned nationwide tour aimed at reclaiming power in the 2027 parliamentary elections.
Belarus Frees 14 Political Prisoners
Belarusian authorities have released 14 political prisoners, including opposition figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski and three Polish citizens, whose freedom had been requested by Poland.