JD Vance joins world tributes to Pope Francis after Easter Sunday meeting
I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.
I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025
'I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis,' Mr Vance posted to X.
'My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.
'I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.'
Mr Vance said he will 'always remember' the pontiff for a 'beautiful' homily he gave after the outbreak of Covid-19 in which Pope Francis called for listeners to 'embrace hope'.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Pope Francis wanted to 'unite people with one another and with nature' as he shared a tribute to 'a grieving world'.
Da Buenos Aires a Roma, Papa Francesco voleva che la Chiesa porti gioia e speranza ai più poveri. Che unisca gli Umani tra di loro e con la natura. Possa tale speranza risuscitare perpetuamente oltre a lui.
A tutti i Cattolici,… pic.twitter.com/5vBJOcHZMe
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 21, 2025
'From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest,' Mr Macron said on X.
'To unite people with one another and with nature.
'May this hope be reborn endlessly beyond him.'
Fondly recalling meetings with the pontiff, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modhi said he was 'deeply pained' by the death.
Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. 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… pic.twitter.com/QKod5yTXrB
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2025
'Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,' he said in a statement posted to X.
'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.'
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky shared a photograph from a 2023 meeting he had with Francis in which the pontiff told him he is 'praying for peace' after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Francis's passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church.
He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We… pic.twitter.com/Ww6NtsbWWS
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 21, 2025
'He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity,' Mr Zelensky said in his statement.
'He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.
'We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support.'
US actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg said Francis had a 'love of humanity and laughter'.
Goldberg met the Pope twice in 12 months, first in 2023 and then as one of a group of 100 of the world's most famous comedians who congregated at an event organised by the Vatican in Rome in 2024.
Whoopi Goldberg said Pope Francis had a 'love for humanit and laughter' (Isabel Infantes/PA)
The meeting of comics was organised by the Vatican, with Pope Francis stating at the event that comedians have the 'power to spread serenity and smiles'.
'You unite people because laughter is contagious,' he told the congregation.
Goldberg said in a post to Instagram: 'He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ's love enveloped believer and none believer.
'He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real.
'Sail on Pope Frances with your love of humanity (and) laughter.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Is this where Putin and Zelensky talks could be held?
Talks of a breakthrough in Russia's war in Ukraine have rumbled before – but now the prospect of Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky sitting face to face no longer feels entirely out of reach. Geneva – a historic venue for peace talks – is emerging as a contender to host the high-stakes summit. After all, the Swiss city witnessed the historic handshake between Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US president Ronald Reagan, which was the first step towards ending the Cold War. Emmanuel Macron was the first to raise the possibility of a peace summit being held in Europe, in 'a neutral country, maybe Switzerland'. The French president said in an interview on LCI: 'I am pushing for Geneva.' He added: 'Or another country. The last time there were bilateral discussions, it was in Istanbul (Turkey). For Russia and Ukraine, a meeting in the city would be more than symbolic. If confirmed, it would be the first time that Putin and Zelensky would face each other since the start of the Russian invasion in an attempt to sketch out the mechanics of a peace deal. The Russian leader is also a subject to an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for war crimes, so entering Switzerland should – technically – result in his arrest. Macron added t hat 'we must make ' an exception for Putin if the meeting takes place in a country that recognizes the ICC. He said: 'The work of justice must come, we are ourselves signatories to these treaties. 'But he is the sitting president, he has a principle of immunity. Peace must move forward, so we must find a place.' Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis told a press conference that, under certain circumstances, Putin would be allowed to set foot in Switzerland. Last year, the Swiss government defined 'the rules for granting immunity to a person under an international arrest warrant.' Cassis explained: 'If this person comes for a peace conference, not if they come for private reasons.' He added that Switzerland was fully prepared to host such a meeting and highlighted the militarily-neutral country's long expertise in the field. Yesterday, important talks took place in Washington with the President of the United States and European leaders. This was truly a significant step toward ending the war and ensuring the security of Ukraine and our people. We are already working on the concrete content of the… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025 Neighbouring Austria has also been flagged as a possible arena for the summit. More Trending Chancellor Christian Stocker said should peace talks take place on its soil, it would get in touch with the ICC 'to make it possible for Putin to attend'. He said he had already offered Vienna as a possible venue for negotiations to Zelensky during the Ukrainian president's visit in June. He added: 'Our capital has a long tradition as a place of dialogue.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Vienna is one of Europe's most expensive cities, but I know how to do it on the cheap MORE: Eurovision Song Contest 2026 date and host city revealed MORE: What could happen if Zelensky and Putin actually meet?
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Government working on contingency plans after ruling on Epping migrant hotel
Ministers are now bracing for further legal challenges from councils across the country. Security minister Dan Jarvis told Times Radio on Wednesday: 'We're looking at a range of different contingency options following from a legal ruling that took place yesterday, and we'll look closely at what we're able to do.' Asked whether other migrant hotels have the proper planning permission, Mr Jarvis said: 'Well, we'll see over the next few days and weeks. 'Other local authorities will be considering whether they wish to act in the same way that Epping (Forest) District Council have. A STATEMENT FROM NIGEL FARAGE This is a victory for the parents and concerned residents of Epping. They do not want their young women being assaulted on the streets. This community stood up bravely, despite being slandered as far right, and have won. They represent the vast… — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) August 19, 2025 'I think the important point to make is that nobody really thinks that hotels are a sustainable location to accommodate asylum seekers. 'That's precisely why the Government has made a commitment that, by the end of this Parliament, we would have phased out the use of them.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has indicated that councils run by his party will consider their own legal challenges. However, a number of these councils do not have responsibility for planning permission, which may limit their ability to launch legal challenges. Mr Farage also called for peaceful protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers to put pressure on local authorities to take the same route as Epping Forest. Writing in The Telegraph, he said: 'Now the good people of Epping must inspire similar protests around Britain. 'Wherever people are concerned about the threat posed by young undocumented males living in local hotels and who are free to walk their streets, they should follow the example of the town in Essex. 'Let's hold peaceful protests outside the migrant hotels, and put pressure on local councils to go to court to try and get the illegal immigrants out; we now know that together we can win.' On Tuesday, a High Court judge ruled the former Bell Hotel in Epping must stop housing asylum seekers by September 12. Epping Forest District Council had asked a judge to issue an interim injunction stopping migrants from being accommodated there. The hotel has been at the centre of a series of protests in recent weeks after an asylum seeker who was staying there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Our work with international partners is vital to stopping small boat crossings to the UK. A joint intelligence unit involving the @NCA_UK and French counterparts has helped dismantle at least 52 organised immigration crime gangs operating in France. — Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) August 17, 2025 The Home Office had warned the judge that an injunction could 'interfere' with the department's legal obligations, and lawyers representing the hotel's owner argued it would set a 'precedent'. Now, Conservative-run Broxbourne Council in Hertfordshire has said it was taking legal advice 'as a matter of urgency' about whether it could take similar action to Epping Forest District Council, which is also run by the Tories. The latest Home Office data showed there were 32,345 asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels at the end of March. This was down 15% from the end of December, when the total was 38,079, and 6% lower than the 34,530 at the same point a year earlier. New figures – published among the usual quarterly immigration data release – are expected on Thursday, showing numbers in hotels at the end of June. Figures for hotels published by the Home Office date back to December 2022 and showed numbers hit a peak at the end of September 2023 when there were 56,042 asylum seekers in hotels.
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Government working on contingency plans after ruling on Epping migrant hotel
Ministers are now bracing for further legal challenges from councils across the country. Security minister Dan Jarvis told Times Radio on Wednesday: 'We're looking at a range of different contingency options following from a legal ruling that took place yesterday, and we'll look closely at what we're able to do.' Asked whether other migrant hotels have the proper planning permission, Mr Jarvis said: 'Well, we'll see over the next few days and weeks. 'Other local authorities will be considering whether they wish to act in the same way that Epping (Forest) District Council have. A STATEMENT FROM NIGEL FARAGE This is a victory for the parents and concerned residents of Epping. They do not want their young women being assaulted on the streets. This community stood up bravely, despite being slandered as far right, and have won. They represent the vast… — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) August 19, 2025 'I think the important point to make is that nobody really thinks that hotels are a sustainable location to accommodate asylum seekers. 'That's precisely why the Government has made a commitment that, by the end of this Parliament, we would have phased out the use of them.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has indicated that councils run by his party will consider their own legal challenges. However, a number of these councils do not have responsibility for planning permission, which may limit their ability to launch legal challenges. Mr Farage also called for peaceful protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers to put pressure on local authorities to take the same route as Epping Forest. Writing in The Telegraph, he said: 'Now the good people of Epping must inspire similar protests around Britain. 'Wherever people are concerned about the threat posed by young undocumented males living in local hotels and who are free to walk their streets, they should follow the example of the town in Essex. 'Let's hold peaceful protests outside the migrant hotels, and put pressure on local councils to go to court to try and get the illegal immigrants out; we now know that together we can win.' On Tuesday, a High Court judge ruled the former Bell Hotel in Epping must stop housing asylum seekers by September 12. Epping Forest District Council had asked a judge to issue an interim injunction stopping migrants from being accommodated there. The hotel has been at the centre of a series of protests in recent weeks after an asylum seeker who was staying there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Our work with international partners is vital to stopping small boat crossings to the UK. A joint intelligence unit involving the @NCA_UK and French counterparts has helped dismantle at least 52 organised immigration crime gangs operating in France. — Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) August 17, 2025 The Home Office had warned the judge that an injunction could 'interfere' with the department's legal obligations, and lawyers representing the hotel's owner argued it would set a 'precedent'. Now, Conservative-run Broxbourne Council in Hertfordshire has said it was taking legal advice 'as a matter of urgency' about whether it could take similar action to Epping Forest District Council, which is also run by the Tories. The latest Home Office data showed there were 32,345 asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels at the end of March. This was down 15% from the end of December, when the total was 38,079, and 6% lower than the 34,530 at the same point a year earlier. New figures – published among the usual quarterly immigration data release – are expected on Thursday, showing numbers in hotels at the end of June. Figures for hotels published by the Home Office date back to December 2022 and showed numbers hit a peak at the end of September 2023 when there were 56,042 asylum seekers in hotels.
