Kenyan leadership joins world leaders in mourning Pope Francis

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has died aged 88, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday.

He became the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Prior to his death, he had survived a serious bout of double pneumonia.

"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel.

"At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father."

Francis' death comes a day after the pope had made his first prolonged public appearance since being discharged on March 23, 2025, from a 38-day hospital stay for pneumonia.

On Easter Sunday, Francis had entered St Peter's Square in an open-air popemobile shortly after mid-day, greeting cheering crowds. He had also offered a special blessing for the first time since Christmas.

Speaker of the National Assembly in Kenya, Moses Wetang'ula joined leaders across the world, reacting to the pope's death with praise for his efforts to reform the worldwide church and offering condolences to the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

“With deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss, I join millions across the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis. A beacon of humility, compassion, and social justice, Pope Francis dedicated his life to serving God and humanity. His unwavering advocacy for the poor, tireless pursuit of peace, and call for unity touched hearts worldwide,” Speaker Wetang'ula said in a statement on X.

The Speaker said that through his words and actions, the Pope embodied Christ’s teachings of love, mercy, and forgiveness, championing the dignity of every human being, regardless of race, nationality, or status.

His leadership, the Speaker said, brought bold reforms and renewed the Church’s mission of inclusivity, dialogue, and shared responsibility.

“His encyclicals, Evangelii Gaudium and Fratelli Tutti, challenged us to become instruments of peace and fraternity, while his devotion to Marian spirituality and the Eucharist deepened the faith of millions. Pope Francis reminded us that the Church must be a “field hospital” a place of healing, hope, and compassion. His life of service leaves a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire generations to walk in the path of Christ,” he said.

Dr Wetang'ula added: “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul rest in peace!”

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said Pope Francis was easily his favourite, describing his as “a proper “sinner’s” Pope”.

“See, according to Catholic doctrine, marriages like mine under Luhya customary law are considered “unholy” unions. Sometimes they wont even baptize your kids till you “regularise”. This is the Pope who said it was OK for priests to extend blessings to sinners like me. May he Rest in Peace,” wrote Sifuna on Monday via X.

Luhya is the second largest tribe in Kenya after Kikuyu.

Pope Francis visited Kenya from November 25 to November 27, 2015, his first trip to Africa. During his visit, he toured various locations, including the Kangemi slum, met with the then President Uhuru Kenyatta, and addressed the Kenyan Parliament. He also celebrated a Mass at the University of Nairobi.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen observed that during his lifetime, Pope Francis inspired millions.

"He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate," said von der Leyen.

Jose Ramos-Horta, the president of East Timor, where Francis had visited in September 2024 as part of the longest foreign trip of his papacy, said the pope "leaves behind a profound legacy of humanity, of justice, of human fraternity".

The Argentine was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, surprising many church watchers who had seen him as an outsider.

He had shown strong concern for the poor. He sought to project simplicity into the grand role and never took possession of the ornate papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors, saying he preferred to live in a community setting for his "psychological health".

He inherited a church under attack over a child sex abuse scandal and torn by infighting in the Vatican bureaucracy, and was elected with a clear mandate to restore order. He will also be remembered as having allowed blessing marriages of same sex partners.

But as his papacy progressed, he faced fierce criticism from conservatives, who accused him of trashing cherished traditions. He also drew the ire of progressives, who felt he should have done much more to reshape the 2,000-year-old church.

Even though he struggled with internal dissent, Pope Francis became a global superstar, drawing huge crowds on his many foreign travels as he tirelessly promoted interfaith dialogue and peace, taking the side of the marginalised, such as migrants.

Unique in modern times, there were two men wearing white in the Vatican for much of Francis' rule, with his predecessor Benedict opting to continue to live in the Holy See after his shock resignation in 2013 had opened the way for a new pontiff.

Benedict, a hero of the conservative cause, died in December 2022.

Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors who will choose the next pope, increasing the possibility that his successor will continue his progressive policies, despite the strong pushback from traditionalists.