'A global beacon of compassion, justice, and humility': Midlands pays tribute to Pope Francis
Tributes have flooded in across the Midlands after Pope Francis died aged 88 following weeks of health issues.
The Vatican said in a statement on Monday morning: "At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church."
Multi-faith groups in Leicestershire have paid tribute to Pope Francis after his death.
A spokesperson for the Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO) said they were "mourning the passing" of the spiritual leader.
Suleman Nagdi from the FMO said: "Though our traditions differ, we recognise the profound impact of the Pope's work in fostering unity, compassion, and justice across borders."
The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, expressed his sadness following the death of Pope Francis.
In a social media post he said: 'A life of devotion to Jesus Christ. Whatever our calling in life, we too can know the joy and peace that Francis displayed in such abundance.'
In Nottinghamshire, the Bishop of Nottingham, the Right Reverend Patrick McKinney, has expressed his sorrow following the death of Pope Francis.
Bishop McKinney said: 'I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
"The Pope has left an indelible mark on the Church and the world, as a man of great warmth and humility who made use of his global prestige to highlight and to listen to the concerns of the poorest and most marginalised people across the world."
Bishop McKinney had met Pope Francis on two occasions - when he had been appointed as Bishop of Nottingham in May 2015 and during an 'Ad limina' visit of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales in 2018. Both meetings were in Rome.
During those encounters, Bishop McKinney said he was "struck by his humility and warm welcome, deep love of Christ Jesus, desire to engage in dialogue, and his profound commitment to the Church and her mission."
The Pope was last seen in public on Easter Sunday, where he blessed thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.
In Staffordshire, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, the Bishop of Lichfield, said a 'defining memory' of Pope Francis was his "attention to the sick, the marginalised and the poor."
He also acknowledged Pope Francis' service on Easter Sunday, saying:
"He reminded us at all times that God has a heart of mercy, and he showed by his life what mercy looks like in practice. His devotion to his ministry until the end as we have witnessed in the last 24 hours, has underscored this.
Birmingham Newman University also released a statement, they described Pope Francis as "A global beacon of compassion, justice, and humility. His tireless work on issues such as care for our 'common home', poverty reduction, and social justice has left an indelible mark on the world."
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