SCOTLAND'S First Minister has paid tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88.
The pontiff's death comes the day after he emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
Francis, formerly known as cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected to lead the Catholic Church in March 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI stood down.
As the first pope from the Americas, and the first non-European for more than 1200 years, his election was a hugely symbolic moment.
Swinney described Pope Francis as “a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation” as he paid tribute following the pontiff’s death.
“It is with deep sadness I heard the news this morning of the death of Pope Francis,” Swinney posted to Twitter/X.
“He was a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation in our society. He brought comfort, assurance and hope to many. May he Rest in Peace.”
King Charles said he and the Queen were “most deeply saddened” to learn of the death of Pope Francis and “were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month”.
A statement from the royal family added: "Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased ... to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.
"His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others."
The King’s message following the death of Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/tnwvSoXcMh
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2025
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer also paid tribute, saying: "I join millions around the world in grieving the death of His Holiness Pope Francis.
"His leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was often courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility."
Starmer added: "Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost the faith-fuelled hope of a better world."
Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church. pic.twitter.com/rrmadD29Dr
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 21, 2025
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, the founder of Scottish charity Mary's Meals, recalled last meeting Pope Francis in February.
"He was clearly coping with health issues and he was struggling to breathe," MacFarlane-Barrow said, "but that didn’t stop him passionately telling all of us that 'nothing is more important than the life of a child!'".
"His words and actions have been a source of great encouragement to all of us working to eradicate hunger – and we need to let them inspire us to action now more than ever," the charity boss added.
Archbishop of Glasgow William Nolan said he shared the “sense of loss of millions of people around the globe at the passing of Pope Francis”.
He added that “the whole Church, and indeed the wider world should be very grateful to God for the gift of this Pope”, saying that. while “at times” he had been “controversial”, Francis had been “a blessing for the Church and for wider society”.
The Right Reverend Dr Shaw Paterson, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, expressed his condolences to the Catholic Church in Scotland.
He urged that the “blessed memory of Francis continue to serve as an example to the faithful people of God in our shared pilgrimage and in our common task of caring for God’s creation”.
Holyrood presiding officer Alison Johnstone announced that flags will fly at half-mast at the Scottish Parliament as a mark of respect.
Posting on social media on behalf of the Parliament, she offered her “deepest sympathy to all of Scotland’s Catholic community on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis”.
She said his “profound empathy and leadership shed light on the systemic injustices faced by the world’s most vulnerable”.
She added: “A passionate advocate for the poor and for the planet, Pope Francis has been a source of tremendous inspiration for SCIAF and our partners across the world.
“We will miss him dearly, but he will live on in our hearts and in our work.”
There had been a sense that Francis's time as pope was drawing to a close when he consecrated 21 new cardinals, seen by some as an attempt to secure his legacy, increasing the likelihood that the next conclave would elect a successor who would continue his reforms.
He also disclosed plans to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore – a sign of his devotion to the Virgin Mary – rather than the Vatican, in yet another break with papal tradition.
Even as his health failed he continued to engage on those issues that defined his papacy, denouncing US president Donald Trump’s plans for the mass deportation of migrants from the US, with a warning it was bound to “end badly”.
