VATICAN CITY, Holy See (AFP) — World leaders remembered Pope Francis as “a beacon of compassion”, reacting with sadness after the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics died on Monday.

Here are some of the first reactions to the death of the 88-year-old pontiff:

– ‘Stood for brotherly mankind’: France –
French President Emmanuel Macron said the pope had always been “on the side of the most vulnerable and the most fragile” and that he had stood for “brotherly humankind”.

– ‘A great man has left us’: Italy –
“Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s home. It is deeply sad news, because a great man has left us,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.

– ‘A beacon of compassion’: India –
“Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

“I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development.”

– ‘Strong ties’: Israel –
“He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said.

– ‘Distinguished papacy’: Ireland –
“Pope Francis’ long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace and human dignity” Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin said, adding that he would be remembered for his “expression of pain and shame” about historic child abuses in the Catholic Church during his 2018 visit to Ireland.

– ‘Profound legacy’: Spain –
“I am sorry to hear of the death of Pope Francis. His commitment to peace, social justice and the most vulnerable leaves a profound legacy. Rest in peace,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

‘Indefatigable commitment’: Germany
Incoming German chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed “great sorrow” and described Pope Francis as a man “guided by humility and faith”.

He said the pontiff “will remain in our memories for his indefatigable commitment” to “the most vulnerable, for justice and for reconciliation”.

– ‘A faithful friend’: Palestinian president –
“Today, we lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,” Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said, noting that the pope “recognised the Palestinian state and authorised the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican”.

– ‘Love and compassion’: Egypt –
Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi said the death of Pope Francis “is a profound loss for the entire world, as he was a voice of peace, love and compassion”.

He said the pope “worked tirelessly to promote tolerance and build bridges of dialogue… and was a champion of the Palestinian cause, defending legitimate rights and calling for an end to conflict”.

– ‘Service to humanity’: Ethiopia –
“May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy of compassion, humility, and service to humanity continue to inspire generations to come,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.

– ‘A loss for humanity’: Lebanon –
“We will never forget his repeated calls to protect Lebanon and preserve its identity and diversity,” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said.

He called Pope Francis’s death “a loss for all humanity, for he was a powerful voice for justice and peace” who urged “dialogue between religions and cultures”.

– ‘Servant leadership’: Kenya –
“He exemplified servant leadership through his humility, his unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice, and his deep compassion for the poor and the vulnerable,” Kenyan President William Ruto said.

“His strong ethical and moral convictions inspired millions across the world, regardless of faith or background.”