World leaders and millions of faithful are mourning the passing of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy defined by compassion, humility, and an unwavering moral conscience.

In a statement released following the pontiff’s death, President Mark Carney described Pope Francis as “a shepherd of compassion and conscience,” lauding his tireless advocacy for the vulnerable and his role as a global voice for peace and justice. “Pope Francis was a voice of moral clarity, spiritual courage, and boundless compassion. He was in many respects the world’s conscience — never hesitating to challenge the powerful on behalf of the vulnerable,” the President said.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, became the first Latin American and Jesuit pope in 2013. Throughout his 12-year papacy, he championed the marginalized, prioritized mercy over judgment, and called for a “poor church for the poor.” His leadership style was marked by simplicity and direct engagement, earning him the title “the People’s Pope.”

He was known for his outreach to refugees, the poor, and those on society’s margins, and for his willingness to address difficult issues within the Church and the world at large. Francis’s famous declaration, “Who am I to judge?” in response to questions about gay Catholics, signaled a more inclusive and empathetic tone that resonated far beyond the Vatican.

The President highlighted the Pope’s efforts to build bridges across faiths and cultures, his passionate calls for environmental stewardship, and his steadfast defense of human dignity. “As the first pope from the Global South, Pope Francis’s commitment to interfaith understanding, environmental stewardship and the dignity of the marginalized extended far beyond the reach of the Catholic Church,” the statement read.

Tributes have poured in from across the globe, with leaders and citizens alike recalling Francis’s humility, his advocacy for the poor, and his courageous stance on issues such as poverty, inequality, migration, and climate change. His papacy, marked by both bold reforms and gentle outreach, has left an indelible mark on the Catholic Church and the world.

As preparations are made for his funeral in St. Peter’s Square, the world reflects on a pontiff who, in the words of the President, “embodied the true meaning of compassion and conscience, reminding us all of the power of faith in action.”