Angolan President João Lourenço Mourns the Passing of Pope Francis

HIS EMINENCE KEVIN JOSEPH FARRELL CAMERLENGO OF THE HOLY ROMAN CHURCH VATICAN CITY Your Eminence, It was with profound sorrow and sadness that I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church, which occurred today, April 21, 2025, at the Vatican. The passing of the Supreme Pontiff represents a profound loss for the world and an immense loss for Catholic Christians, who saw in him one of the great hopes for building a more just and equitable world, as he was a leader deeply committed to peace, social justice, and the most disadvantaged. Throughout his Pontificate, he proved to be an insightful interpreter of the concerns and challenges of the modern world. In this regard, we had the privilege of witnessing him take courageous positions that helped transform approaches no longer suited to our times and address more fully issues concerning diversity within the Catholic Church. Therefore, on behalf of the Angolan Government and on my own behalf, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the Vatican City State and to the faithful of the Catholic Church throughout the world on the passing of this distinguished and universally respected figure. Please accept, Your Eminence, the expression of my deepest solidarity at this time of sorrow and mourning for the Catholic Church and for the world. JOÃO MANUEL GONÇALVES LOURENÇO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA