By Sue-Ann Wayow

POPE Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, will be remembered as a transformational leader whose legacy transcended borders, faiths, and ideologies.

President Christine Kangaloo on Monday joined with the international community in mourning the passing of the pope, extending condolences to all with the Vatican.

In a letter dated April 21, 2025 to His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, the President wrote, “On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and on my own behalf, I extend deeply felt condolences to all within the Vatican and to the wider community of the faithful who have been under the Holy Father’s watchful care since his election as Pope on March 13, 2013.”

In a subsequent media release, Kangaloo said, “Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, will be remembered as a transformational leader whose legacy transcended borders, faiths, and ideologies.

“His Holiness served with deep compassion, humility, and unwavering dedication to uplifting the marginalised and addressing the most pressing social challenges of our time. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was a vocal advocate for peace, poverty alleviation, climate action, and the protection of human rights—issues that continue to resonate across the world.”

She also said, “Pope Francis brought a unique and empathetic voice to the Vatican, reshaping the global Church’s mission with a focus on mercy, inclusivity, and social justice. His leadership inspired millions and opened new paths for dialogue among people of diverse beliefs.”

Kangaloo, who grew up in Presbyterianism and converted to Catholicism, also said prayers of comfort were being offered for all who held the pope dear.

Pope Francis was a first of many in the Roman Catholic Church.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, he was head of the Catholic Church since 2013. He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first of Latin American identity, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first born or raised outside of Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.