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Presidents of different African countries have penned moving tributes to Pope Francis, describing him as a tireless champion of the poor, a “guiding light for millions”, and a shepherd who emphasized in dealing with the challenges facing humanity.
Archbishop Goetbé Edmond Djitangar of the Catholic Archdiocese of N’Djaména in Chad has called on the people of God in his Metropolitan See to honor Pope Francis's legacy by embracing his commitment to fight injustice and protect the environment.
Bishop Matthew Remijio Adam of South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Wau has decried the protracted violent conflicts in the country.
In his 2025 Easter message, Stephen Cardinal Brislin of the Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg in South Africa has decried the “culture of death”.
Bishop Michael Gobal Gokum of the Catholic Diocese of Pankshin in Nigeria has expressed sorrow over the mass displacement of residents in his Episcopal See as a result of insecurity.
The College of Cardinals saw a significant increase in attendance at Wednesday's General Congregation, with 103 cardinals now present in Rome — nearly double the approximately 60 who participated in Tuesday's initial gathering.
Protase Cardinal Rugambwa of Tanzania’s Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora has appealed for spiritual solidarity with the College of Cardinals entrusted with leading the Church during the Papal Interregnum, the period between the passing or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor.
Dieudonné Cardinal Nzapalainga of the Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui has paid a glowing tribute to Pope Francis, who passed on Easter Monday, describing the late Pontiff as a devoted friend of the Central African Republic (CAR) and a shepherd who loved the Church across Africa.
Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku of the Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has remembered the 2023 visit of Pope Francis to the troubled African country, during which the Holy Father lauded the vitality of the Church in the country.
The late Pope Francis was a humble, missionary-minded shepherd close to all and whose vision for a synodal and merciful Church remains alive, Ignace Cardinal Bessi Dogbo of the Ivory Coast’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan has said.
Bishops across Africa have issued directives in their respective Dioceses, encouraging special prayers for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis who passed on Easter Monday, April 21 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
The late Pope Francis address moral and ethical issues authoritatively and his Easter Monday passing on signifies “a colossal loss”, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Nigeria’s Archdiocese of Abuja has said.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Ndola in Zambia has declared a period of mourning following the passing on of Pope Francis, and suspended major activities it had lined up before the Easter Monday news was made public.
“We must not be afraid of old age, we must not fear embracing becoming old,” wrote Francis in the preface to a book in Italian by Cardinal Angelo Scola.
The Vatican on Tuesday released the first photos of Pope Francis after his death, showing him dressed in red vestments and lying in a simple, wooden coffin inside the chapel of the Santa Marta guesthouse.
The Holy See on Monday evening released the death certificate detailing the cause of death of Pope Francis, who died in his Vatican apartment at 7:35 a.m. in Rome on April 21, the day after Easter.
Catholic Bishops in Africa have expressed sorrow at the passing on of Pope Francis, remembering him as an inspirational leader, whose pontificate of peace and inclusivity was felt by many across the continent, resulting in a positive and memorable impression.
The Church in Africa has been thrown into deep mourning following the passing on of Pope Francis, with Church leaders on the continent describing the late Holy Father as a voice for the voiceless, a tireless advocate for peace and human dignity, and most especially, “a friend of Africa”.
Catholic Bishops in Portuguese-speaking Africa (Lusophone Africa) have paid glowing tribute to late Pope Francis, who passed on Easter Monday, April 21, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta at the age of 88.
The Vatican has released the testament of Pope Francis. The 88-year-old pontiff died on Easter Monday morning, April 21, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, as confirmed by the Holy See Press Office. He led the Catholic Church for just over 12 years.