Pope Francis greets the crowd during a surprise appearance at the end of the mass for Palm Sunday earlier this month.

Politicians around the world have paid tribute to Pope Francis following his death at the age of 88.

The Vatican announced that the Pontiff – who had been ill for some time – had “returned to the house of the Father” on Easter Monday morning.

It came just a day after he had blessed thousands of Catholics in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Easter Sunday.

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”

Prime minister Keir Starmer said Francis had been “a Pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten”.

He said: “His leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was often courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility.

“Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost the faith-fuelled hope of a better world. That hope was as the heart of his papacy.

“His determination to visibly live out his faith inspired people across the world to see........

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