President Donald Trump issued a public statement on Monday morning following the death of Pope Francis, calling for prayers and offering condolences to the Catholic Church and its global followers. The pope, 88, passed away on Easter Monday after a prolonged period of illness.

"He was a good man, worked hard and loved the world," the American leader said in the wake of Francis’ death on Monday. The late pope, who was 88 when he passed away, was an outspoken critic of some of Trump’s policies, which he said were ‘not Christian’.