Milan (AsiaNews) – Messages of condolence for the death of Pope Francis continue to arrive from all over the world, including from many countries in Asia, a continent for which Bergoglio showed great fondness during his pontificate.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first heads of state and government to express his condolences. He says he is "deeply pained" by the pontiff’s passing in a message on X together with images of his meeting with Francis in the Vatican.
“In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope.”
The Indian leader added: “I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God’s embrace.”
In a message signed by its president, Bishop Mathias Ri Iong-hoon (Lee Yong-Hoon), the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea highlights Pope Francis’s closeness to the peninsula and his apostolic journey in 2014.
“[H]e emphasised that the Catholic Church in Korea has a responsibility to act as a guardian of hope and peace on the divided Korean Peninsula and around the world, and to do so, he urged that, above all else, priority should be given to the poor and the marginalised.”
The message also notes the many times in which Francis made his closeness felt when national tragedies struck, comforting “the victims, their families, and the people of our country more broadly,” and showing in this solidarity "the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, who bore the sins of humanity and died on the cross.”
“Pope Francis left his final journey on earth entirely to the providence of God, but he was concerned about the world until the end and wished for complete peace without war or conflict.” In doing so, he “showed the world a beautiful example of returning to God’s embrace.”
In the Philippines, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of Kalookan and president of the Bishops' Conference, said that he was shocked at the news. On a social media post, he urged Filipinos to pray, and “ring the bells of our churches and call our people to prayer for the eternal repose of the Holy Father Pope Francis.”
The death of Pope Francis is also arousing deep emotions in the war-wounded Middle East, to which Francis dedicated himself until his last breath.
In a tweet, Israel's President Isaac Herzog called him “A man of deep faith and boundless compassion,” who “dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world.” Hence, “I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered.”
Iran also reacted to the pope’s death, expressing closeness. "My colleagues have just informed me of the news ... I offer my condolences to all Christians around the world," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaïl Baghaï during a press briefing, adding that he "prays to Almighty God for the peace" of Pope Francis.
In Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarchate announced that a Mass for the pope will be held at the Holy Sepulchre on Wednesday morning at 10 am. “We gather in faith, hope, gratitude to the Lord for the gift of Pope Francis and for his paternal service to the Universal Church,” reads the call to the faithful.
