23.04.2025 – (12:01 PM) Htate

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, and his native Argentina has declared seven days of national mourning.

“This morning I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of the Pope. Despite our differences of opinion, I am very proud to have known his kindness and vision,” Argentine President Javier Tebas posted on social media.

President Tebas has not had a good relationship with the Pope. Before becoming president, Tebas called the Pope a madman and accused him of supporting communism.

Pope Francis and Tebas met at the Vatican in February last year. Tebas invited Francis to visit Argentina again. However, Francis has not returned to Argentina since taking office.

Similarly, Brazil, the world’s largest Christian country, has declared seven days of mourning for Francis. “Today, humanity has lost a man of great generosity,” Brazilian President Lula da Silva wrote on Facebook.

East Timor, a predominantly Christian country, has also declared seven days of national mourning, starting on April 22. Francis visited East Timor last year, his first in more than 30 years.