Pope Francis dead at 88: JD Vance, Whoopi Goldberg and more react

Celebrities are paying tribute to Pope Francis after his death. ABC

A-listers and world leaders alike are mourning Pope Francis in the wake of his death.

The head of the Catholic Church, whose real name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died on Monday morning after a months-long battle with pneumonia, according to the Vatican.

He was 88 years old.

The head of the Catholic Church passed away on Monday. Getty Images

He died at age 88. AFP via Getty Images

Francis met with Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday, and the politician paid his respects via X.

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” the 40-year-old tweeted Monday. “May God rest his soul.”

King Charles III, who met with Francis alongside Queen Camilla on April 6 — just three days after the pope was discharged from the hospital — released a statement.

Vice President JD Vance honored the pope via social media, one day after their Easter Sunday visit. Getty Images

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” Vance wrote via X. Getty Images

King Charles III did the same. Samir Hussein/WireImage

“My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis,” the monarch, 76, wrote. “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that his Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting.

“The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month,” he continued.

Whoopi Goldberg told Francis to “sail on” with his “love of humanity and laughter” in her own Instagram tribute.

The monarch and Queen Camilla met with Francis earlier this month. ABACA/Shutterstock

Whoopi Goldberg honored Francis’ “love and laughter.” Getty Images

The 69-year-old “View” co-host shared a photo of herself shaking hands with the pope in 2023, gushing, “He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and none [sic] believer.”

“Desperate Housewives” alum Eva Longoria, for her part, re-posted news of the pope’s death with a praying hands emoji.

Meanwhile, actor Antonia Banderas told his Instagram followers, “Pope Francisco has died — a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people.”

Eva Longoria posted a praying emoji to her Instagram Story. FilmMagic

Antonio Banderas highlighted the pope’s “kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people.” AFP via Getty Images

As for “Bridgerton” star Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Agatha Danbury, she wrote, “RIP Pope Francis. Within the constraints of his tradition, manifestly compassionate and standing with the marginalized. What a loss.”

Francis was the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to be elected to the papacy.

He assumed the role in 2013.

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