Kamal Haasan Pays Tribute To Pope Francis, Calls Him A 'Voice For The Poor'
Kamal Haasan called him a "champion of peace, a humble reformer, a voice for the poor, and a bridge between faiths".
Pope Francis, the first Latin American to head the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at the age of 88, as announced by the Vatican in a video statement on the morning of April 21. He died at Casa Santa Marta, his residence in Vatican City. Among the many paying tribute was actor Kamal Haasan, who expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter). Haasan lauded Pope Francis for his compassion, his unwavering message of peace, and his tireless efforts to unite people across diverse faiths and communities.
'I offer my deepest condolences to the Catholic community around the world on the passing of Pope Francis. A champion of peace, a humble reformer, a voice for the poor, and a bridge between faiths — he was a moral compass in a fractured world. The world mourns a spiritual leader who placed humanity above all," he wrote.
I offer my deepest condolences to the Catholic community around the world on the passing of Pope Francis. A champion of peace, a humble reformer, a voice for the poor, and a bridge between faiths — he was a moral compass in a fractured world. The world mourns a spiritual leader… pic.twitter.com/3Z17Grnzgs — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 21, 2025
The Pope had been admitted on February 14 for bronchitis. Later, the Vatican confirmed he had bilateral pneumonia. He also received blood transfusions after his platelet count dropped. Officials said this was due to anaemia, which made his condition worse. His health struggles had been widely reported in recent weeks.
Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, who now serves as the Vatican camerlengo, made the formal announcement of the Pope's passing. 'At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church," he said in a public statement.
Cardinal Ferrell added, 'He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune."
Following the Pope's death, Cardinal Farrell is now handling the daily affairs of the Vatican. He was born in Dublin and later became a US citizen. He will oversee Church matters until a new pope is elected.
First Published:
April 22, 2025, 10:07 IST
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