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Celebrities have publicly paid tribute to Pope Francis after the Vatican announced his death on Easter Monday aged 88.
The pontiff, who dedicated his ‘entire life’ to serving God and the Church, was remembered on social media by celebrities of all ages and religions.
Among them was Antonio Banderas, who previously described himself as an agnostic in 2006 but said he has a close affinity with Catholic spirituality.
The Spanish actor, 64, shared a picture from his meeting with the pontiff in 2016 and wrote: ‘Pope Francisco has died — a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people. @franciscus #RIP #DEP’.
Eva Longoria – who met the pope in 2016 – also paid tribute, sharing an image of the pontiff with a praying hands emoji.
Church of England priest, Revered Richard Coles, was quick to pay tribute to the head of the Catholic Church, sharing a throwback snap of the pontiff.
Antonio Banderas, who previously described himself as an agnostic in 2006 but said he has a close affinity with Catholic spirituality, led tributes to Pope Francis following his death
Eva Longoria – who met the pope in 2016 – also paid tribute, sharing an image of the pontiff with a praying hands emoji
Eva shared a link to a post revealing the pontiff’s death
Church of England priest, Revered Richard Coles, was quick to pay tribute to the head of the Catholic Church, sharing a throwback snap of the pontiff
The British reverend tweeted: ‘Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant Jorge, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.
‘Receive him into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen. #PopeFrancis.’
Livia Firth penned: ‘No matter the religion, he was a giant of a man – for love, for justice, for peace. No matter his position and the constraints that came with it, he tried.
‘I loved his humanity and some of his work (the ‘Laudato Si’, on care for our common home’ is so beautiful)
‘Your voice will be missed in the world Jorge Mario Bergoglio.’
Boxer Frank Bruno paid his respects, writing: ‘Morning for those not heard His Holiness the Pope has passed away.
‘I am not very religious but was married in a Catholic church. May he rest in peace #rip #morning #monday.’
King Charles also paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying he was ‘deeply saddened’ to learn of the Pope’s passing.
He said Francis, who was the first Latin American pope, would be ‘remembered for his compassion’ and had ‘profoundly touched the lives of so many’.
Livia Firth penned: ‘No matter the religion, he was a giant of a man – for love, for justice, for peace. No matter his position and the constraints that came with it, he tried’
Boxer Frank Bruno paid his respects despite ‘not being very religious’
Carol Vorderman described Pope Francis as a ‘humble man’ in her tribute
Pope Francis’s death came just weeks after King Charles and Queen Camilla met His Eminence in Rome during a royal visit to Italy, with His Majesty saying the couple were ‘greatly moved to have been able to visit him’.
The Pontiff had spent the last couple of months battling health problems, including a bout of pneumonia which left him hospitalised.
He had recovered enough to hold a private audience with the pair on April 9, and he had been seen at public events over the Easter weekend, while also meeting US Vice President JD Vance in recent days.
However, it was announced early on Easter Monday that he had passed away, sending more than a billion Catholics worldwide into mourning.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Charles said: ‘My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis.
‘Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.
‘His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others.
‘His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world.
‘Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.
‘The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.
‘We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.’
Lizzie Cundy and Georgina Rodriguez paid their respects to the pontiff on Instagram
King Charles and Queen Camilla have a private meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican City on April 9 this year
Strictly’s Graziano Di Prima and Psychic Sally Morgan were among those paying tribute
The Pontiff spent his final hours with faithful, emerging to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday and touring the piazza in the Popemobile to wild cheers and applause after being discharged from hospital only last month.
Francis had briefly met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance for a ‘quick and private’ meeting at the Casa Santa Marta residence in Vatican City earlier on Sunday.
He was hoped to be making a steady recovery from double pneumonia before Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that he had died at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) today.
‘With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune,’ he said in a statement.
Francis had only left hospital under ‘protected discharge’ on March 23 after suffering an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs earlier this year.
But he resolutely toured through the crowd of 35,000 believers ‘for 50 minutes at 21 degrees’ on Sunday after giving the traditional Urbi et Orbi benediction and wishing Catholics a ‘Happy Easter’ and calling for an end to conflicts around the world.
The Conclave – where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor – will not happen for at least 15 days.
Francis’s body will lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica during an official mourning period, and then – in contrast to most of his predecessors – he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino neighbourhood.
