Catholics mourn friend of world's forsaken souls

IN the same square Pope Francis delivered his final Easter message on Sunday, bells yesterday rang out to announce his death and plunge Catholics into mourning.

- BY JEREMY ARMSTRONG, MATTHEW YOUNG at the Vatican and SOPHIE HUSKISSON

Thousands of people stood silently in the centre of Vatican City as shock and sadness filled the morning air at news the 88-year-old champion of the needy, the persecuted, the oppressed and the exploited had died from a stroke and heart failure at 7.35am.

Despite his ill-health in recent months, Pope Francis was working right up until the end, with his message on Easter Sunday in St Peter's Square highlighting the plight of the sick, the elderly, victims of war and refugees.

It was one of only a handful of public appearances the pontiff made since March 23, when he returned home from a 38-day hospital stay after developing double pneumonia.

Keir Starmer was among the many paying tribute to the Argentine, who became Pope in 2013 and was affectionately known as Papa Francesco. The PM said: "I join millions around the world in grieving the death of Pope Francis.

"His leadership in a challenging time for the world and the Church was courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility.

"Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost hope of a better world.

"His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy."

The King, who met the Pope on his visit to Italy with Camilla on April 9 and admired him for speaking on environmental issues, added: "My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis.