- Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, on the first anniversary of his death, praising his powerful message of divine mercy and unwavering commitment to the world’s impoverished.
- Speaking from the papal plane during his African tour, Leo XIV reflected on Francis’s life, witness, and gestures, particularly his closeness to the poorest, sick, and elderly.
- Pope Francis died on Easter Monday last year at the age of 88, following a stroke and a five-week hospital stay for double pneumonia.
- Francis had laid the groundwork for Leo XIV's election, having championed the then-Cardinal Robert Prevost, whom he regarded as “a saint”.
- Francis's support included bringing Prevost to Rome to head the Vatican’s bishop-vetting office, providing him crucial experience and contacts despite the historical taboo against an American pope.
IN FULL
