Condolence message from Putin for Pope Francis

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his condolences to senior Vatican official Cardinal Kevin Farrell following the passing of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.

In a message published on the official Kremlin website, Putin stated, "Pope Francis possessed great international authority as a faithful servant of Christian doctrine, a wise religious and statesman, and a consistent defender of high values such as humanism and justice."

Noting that throughout his tenure, Pope Francis actively supported the development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the establishment of constructive interaction between Russia and the Vatican, Putin added, "I had the opportunity to converse with this remarkable person several times, and I will cherish the fondest memories of him forever. At this sad time, I would like to convey my condolences and words of support to you and all the Catholic clergy."

Russian President Putin had met with Pope Francis, whose death was announced today, three times at the Vatican, in 2013, 2015, and 2019.