King Charles III has expressed he was „deeply saddened” by Pope Francis’s death. In a heartfelt statement, the King offered his “most sincere condolences and profound sympathy to the Church which His Holiness served with such steadfast devotion.”

“His Holiness will be remembered as a man of compassion, committed to the unity of the Church and tirelessly dedicated to people of all faiths, and to those of goodwill who work to make the world a better place,” the King said.

The King and Queen Camilla met with Pope Francis at the Vatican earlier this month. The King noted that both he and the Queen were “deeply moved to have had the opportunity to visit him.”

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, speaking as acting head of the Church of England, paid tribute to Pope Francis’s warmth, compassion, and commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue. He emphasised that the late pontiff’s life was marked above all by service to the poor, solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers, and his unwavering advocacy for environmental protection.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has paid tribute to Pope Francis, praising his “tireless efforts” to build a fairer and more just world.

In a gesture of national mourning, the British government announced that flags on all public buildings would be flown at half-mast until Tuesday evening.

Source: PAP, X

Photo: @RoyalFamily

Tomasz Modrzejewski