Whoopi Goldberg, Russell Crowe, JD Vance and more have paid tribute to Pope Francis after the Catholic Church leader died on Monday at the age of 88.
Vatican officials confirmed the Pope’s death, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell saying in a statement: “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.”
Francis had been experiencing health issues lately and was hospitalized in February with bronchitis, which led to double pneumonia and several respiratory crises. However, he was released from the hospital on March 23 and came out of convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people on St. Peter’s Square.
Goldberg, who met the Pope in 2023 and again last year, wrote on Instagram that “he was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and none [sic] believer. He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances [sic] with your love of humanity & Laughter.”
Leonardo DiCaprio posted a lengthy tribute to Pope Francis on Instagram alongside photos of the two meeting. “Pope Francis was a transformational leader — not only for the Catholic Church, but also for environmental reform and activism,” he wrote, referencing the pope’s 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’.”
“This powerful document served as a clarion call for a fundamental shift in how we relate to the planet,” DiCaprio wrote. “Emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life, Pope Francis urged individuals, communities, institutions, and world leaders to unite in caring for our common home. His words helped catalyze momentum ahead of the global 2015 COP21 conference, ultimately contributing to the formation of the Paris Agreement.”
He recalled meeting with the pope about climate change before filming the documentary “Before the Flood” in 2016, calling the experience “enlightening, deeply moving and thought provoking.”
“Pope Francis was one of the most extraordinary spiritual leaders of our time,” he concluded. “His legacy will continue to inspire generations of environmentalists around the world. May he rest in peace.”
