Responses to death Pope: ‘A man who was always on the side of the most vulnerable’

Inside and outside the Netherlands, politicians reacted sadly on Monday to the death of Pope Franciscus, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Many of them consider his attention to the most vulnerable in the world.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni calls Pope Francis on Instagram « a big man and great pastor. » According to Meloni, the legacy of the pope will not be lost. « I have had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his lessons, which were never wrong, not even in times of testing and suffering. »

The chairman of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, calls the Pope a source of inspiration for millions of people. « My thoughts are with everyone who feels this great loss. May they find comfort in the thought that Pope Francis’s legacy will continue to lead us all to a more fair, more peaceful and sympathetic world, » she writes on X.

During a visit to the island of Mayotte, French President Emmanuel Macron describes the pope as a man who « always stood by the most strikes. » « In these times of war and cruelty, he always thought of the other. »

The upcoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz writes on X that the death of the Pope is « great sorrow ». Franciscus-The first pope from Latin America, Merz emphasizes, will be remembered, according to the CDU leader, « because of his tireless commitment to the weakest in society, for justice and reconciliation. »

The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez praises the pope for his « dedication to peace, social justice and the most vulnerable. » Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, calls Francis on a « man of deep faith and boundless compassion. » « I express my deepest condolences to the Christian world and in particular to the Christian communities in Israel – the Holy Land – with the loss of their great spiritual Father, His Holiness Pope Francis, » Herzog writes.

A very special moment

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima say on Monday in a statement « deeply affected » by the death of Pope Franciscus, writes Anp news agency. « With warmth we remember the personal encounters with him, including during our state visit to the Holy chair in 2017. Pope Francis radiated mercy in everything. »

Dutch politicians also responded immediately to the death of the pope on Monday morning. Prime Minister Dick Schoof has « deep respect » for Pope Francis, he writes in a message on X. « With his deeply lived austerity, service and humanity, Pope Francis was an example for very many, also for non-Catholics. » Secretary-General of NATO and former Prime Minister Mark Rutte writes on the same medium that he mourns for the death of the Pope. « His dedication to peace and compassion was an inspiration for millions. »

David van Weel, Minister of Justice (VVD) still met the pope one day before his death in Rome. « A very special moment, » writes Van Weel on X. « My thoughts are with all who are touched by his death. » His party colleague Dilan Yeşilgöz writes that the world « loses a spiritual leader who was of significant to many. »

« In his long life he recorded it for the poorest and most vulnerable, » writes Frans Timmermans on X. According to the GroenLinks-PvdA leader, the Pope tried to « get the church of the original conservative line, sometimes with success ». Timmermans calls Franciscus « warm, understanding and empathetic. A people person. Rest in peace. »

In a message on the same medium, CDA leader Henri Bontenbal says he is « sad » about the death of the Pope. « This pope gave the Catholic Church a human face. » Bontenbal also writes back to the letter (entitled Laudato Si) That Francis wrote in 2015 about the global climate issue. That letter « has many, including me, very inspired to stand up for creation and the poor. »

PVV leader Geert Wilders writes that the Catholic Church loses « its beloved and widely respected leader. » Caroline van der Plas, leader of the BBB, writes on X to be shocked by the death of the Pope, who was still present at the Easter mass in Rome on Sunday. « A special man who was loved by many and a pope who fundamentally changed the Catholic Church. Rest in peace. »

« No judgment about LGBTI »

COC Nederland, a interest group for LGBTI+ Persons, also responded to the death of Pope Franciscus on Monday. Anp tells a spokesperson for the COC that the Pope condemned homosexuality and transgender people less than his predecessors. « He did not express a judgment about LGBTI+, he allowed the blessing for couples of the same gender, just like baptism for transgender people. That is highly appreciated by many people in the rainbow community. »

Yet that change compared to its predecessors did not mean that the LGBTI+community felt « unconditionally welcome » in the Roman Catholic Church, says the spokesperson. « We hope that the path taken by Francis will continue by his successor, so that ultimately all LGBTI+ people who want to feel at home in the Roman Catholic Church. »

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