Global tributes after sudden death of Pope at age of 88

NEWS OF FRANCIS' DEATH SHOCKS WORLD AFTER EASTER APPEARANCE

- EDD DRACOTT

PUBLIC figures across the world have paid tribute to Pope Francis following his death at the age of 88 on Monday morning.

The Pope made his first public appearance since his bout of double pneumonia, when he appeared in St Peter's Square in a wheelchair during a mass for the sick on Sunday, following his discharge from hospital two weeks previously.

He took a popemobile tour through a crowd of cheering thousands the Square.

US vice president JD Vance met Pope Francis in Rome on Sunday, just hours before the pontiff's death.

Months after Francis criticised President Donald Trump's administration over their plans to deport migrants en masse, Pope Francis offered Mr Vance three chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children in Sunday's brief meeting.

"I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis," Mr Vance posted online.

"My 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."

Mr Trump later posted: "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!"

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky shared a photograph from a 2023 meeting he had with Francis in which the pontiff told him he is "praying for peace" after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.