Francis, remembered by Antonio Costa: “He cared about global challenges and the struggles of each person.” Von der Leyen: “He will continue to lead us”

Brussels – The sudden death of Pope Francis has shaken the lazy Easter Monday in Brussels. Among the first to comment was European Council President Antonio Costa, who on X said he was joining “the millions of people around the world who mourn the death of His Holiness.” According to the Portuguese, Francis “was deeply compassionate. He cared deeply about the great global challenges of our time —  migration, climate change, inequality, peace — as well as the daily struggles of each and everyone.”

In his latest World Day of Peace message, Costa recalls, “he proposed three actions so that ‘enduring change’ may come about—the forgiveness of international debt, the abolition of the death penalty, and the reallocation of military funds towards ending hunger. May his ideas continue to guide us towards a future of hope. Requiescat in pace.

In a note, the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, admitted his “great personal sorrow” at the news of the death of Pope Francis, “sensing the serious void created by the loss of the point of reference he always represented for me,” he said. Mattarella added, “his teaching recalled the Gospel message, solidarity among men, the duty of closeness to the weakest, international cooperation, and peace in humanity.” According to the Head of State, “gratitude to him should be translated with the responsibility to work, as he constantly did, for these goals.”

On Nov. 25, 2014, Francis spoke before the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where in a highly applauded speech before the plenary, he described “a grandmotherly Europe,” tired and folded in on itself, and called for rediscovering the ideals that inspired it, fighting mistrust, restoring dignity to work, and welcoming migrants.

On X, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recalled that Francis I “inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate.”

“My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss,” she added. “May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis’ legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world.”

“The ‘Pope of the people’ will be remembered for his love of life, hope for peace, compassion for equality and social justice. May he rest in peace,” writes European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on X.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told TG1:  “The world will remember Francis as the people’s pope, the pope of the last. I will miss him too; we had an extraordinary personal relationship; he was a pontiff with whom you could talk about anything. He was very particular.”

Also on X, Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Policy of the European Union, expressed her “great sadness” over the death of Pope Francis. “When we met recently in Rome, I thanked him for his strong leadership in protecting the most vulnerable and defending human dignity,” she said. “I offer my condolences to all Catholics around the world.”

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, “deeply saddened,” said Francis was a “global voice for unity, justice, and human dignity. His wisdom and humility touched lives far beyond faith.”

The leader of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, Iratxe García Pérez, said that “the world has lost a leader and a good man. Pope Francis’s legacy will be remembered for his compassion, selflessness, and commitment to social justice. His honesty moved the Catholic Church forward, creating a before and after.”

The head of the Democratic Party delegation in Strasbourg, Nicola Zingaretti, wrote on Instagram that “A great, humane Pope has passed away, one who fought and cried out for a more just world. It was a powerful message that many—too many—chose not to hear,” he said. “For what it’s worth, know that we will continue to fight for a fairer world, for peace, for the fight against inequality, remaining faithful to Your teachings,” he added.

Nicola Procaccini, co-president of the ECR parliamentary group, stated in a note: “We pay tribute to his simple and good-natured humility, to his evangelical charisma, to his commitment to peace, and to the authority with which he represented the Catholic Church in difficult times.”

Sandro Gozi, MEP for Renew Europe, pointed out, “Pope Francis passed away this Easter Monday, in the aftermath of his deeply moving message of peace. Until the end, he carried on a voice of dialogue, humility, and hope. May his legacy continue to inspire us.”

In a note, the 5 Star Movement delegation to the European Parliament stated: “With great sorrow and dismay, we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, a man whose teaching has profoundly affected the lives of millions of believers and non. His magisterium, always on the side of the least, was marked by the values of peace, solidarity, tolerance, and social justice. It remains his most beautiful and precious legacy that we all have the duty and responsibility to carry forward today.”