President William Ruto has joined world leaders and the Christian community in mourning the death of Pope Francis, describing the late pontiff as a beacon of humility, justice, and compassion whose leadership left a lasting impact on the world.
In a statement shared on Monday, April 21, 2025, Ruto termed the death of the 88-year-old pontiff a major loss to the Catholic Church and humanity at large.
“We join the Catholic Church and the global Christian community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. This is a big loss to the Catholic faithful and the Christian world,” Ruto said.
He remembered Pope Francis as a servant leader who embodied humility, ethical conviction, and compassion for the poor and vulnerable.
“Pope Francis will be remembered for a life dedicated to serving the Lord, the Church, and humanity. He exemplified servant leadership through his humility, his unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice, and his deep compassion for the poor and the vulnerable,” Ruto stated.
“His strong ethical and moral convictions inspired millions across the world, regardless of faith or background. May his soul Rest in Eternal Peace,” he added.
End of an era
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years, died on Monday following a prolonged battle with pneumonia.
He had recently been discharged from the hospital in Rome and was continuing his recovery at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta residence.
The Argentine-born pope had led the Catholic Church since 2013, bringing a reformist and pastoral tone to the papacy.
His leadership was marked by a more inclusive stance on contentious issues such as homosexuality, the death penalty, and the role of women in the Church.
However, he also struggled to fully address the deep-rooted sexual abuse scandals that continued to haunt the church.
Despite health challenges, including the recent lung infection, Francis had continued to appear in public, making a surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Square just weeks before his passing.
Leaders pay tribute
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, a practising Catholic, also paid tribute to the late pope.
Wetang’ula, who met Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican in 2024, expressed deep sorrow and described the pontiff as a beacon of humility and justice.
“With deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss, I join millions across the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis. A beacon of humility, compassion, and social justice, Pope Francis dedicated his life to serving God and humanity,” he said.
He praised the pope’s leadership through teachings that promoted peace and unity.
“Through his words and actions, he embodied Christ’s teachings of love, mercy, and forgiveness, championing the dignity of every human being, regardless of race, nationality, or status. His encyclicals, Evangelii Gaudium and Fratelli Tutti, challenged us to become instruments of peace and fraternity, while his devotion to Marian spirituality and the Eucharist deepened the faith of millions,” part of Wetang’ula’s statement read.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also paid tribute, calling Pope Francis “a shepherd of hope, peace, and unwavering faith.”
“A light to the world has dimmed. Today, we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, a shepherd of hope, peace, and unwavering faith. His legacy of compassion and unity will endure across generations. May he rest in eternal peace, Mudavadi’s statement read.