In a heartfelt tribute, Former US President, Joe Biden, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, calling him “one of the most consequential leaders of our time” and a “Pope for everyone.”

“It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis,” Biden wrote in an official statement.

“He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him.”

Reflecting on the Pope’s lifelong service, Biden, the second Catholic President in U.S. history, emphasized the Argentine pontiff’s unwavering commitment to the poor and marginalized.

“For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased,” Biden noted.

As the first Jesuit pope and the first from Latin America, Pope Francis’s tenure was marked by his efforts to bridge divides—both within and outside the Catholic Church.

“As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths. He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless,” Biden said.

President Biden praised the Pope’s inclusive leadership, recalling his efforts to make all feel welcome in the Church. “He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe,” he wrote.

In closing, Biden called the late pontiff “a light of faith, hope, and love,” saying: “And above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the People’s Pope.”