Messi, mayor and Miami archbishop react to death of Pope Francis

Pope Francis, the Argentina-born pontiff who rattled the Catholic Church’s conservatives but inspired progressives for his outreach to marginalized groups, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

News of his passing has prompted emotional response from Catholics and world leaders, and South Florida is no exception.

Statement from the Miami Archdiocese on the death of Pope Francis

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski issued a statement on Monday in which he said "Pope Francis leaves this world as a 'pilgrim of hope'." 

"Pope Francis saw the Church as a 'field hospital' called to tend to the wounded on the battle fields of life offering her medicine of mercy to all," Wenski's statement said. "The Church, Pope Francis insisted, is not only to teach but to act—to embrace those on the periphery and to bring the light of Christ to the darkest corners of society... His legacy will be defined by a series of 'firsts': the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope from the Americas, the first Pope to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress, the first Pope to appoint women to high positions in the Roman curia previously held only by male prelates." 

Read the full statement here.

South Florida officials, organizations and stars react to the death of Pope Francis

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniela Levine-Cava offered her "deepest condolences to the Catholic community" in a post on X as she described the pontiff as "a spiritual leader who deeply cared for our most vulnerable and became an example of peace and compassion in the world."

Inter Miami star and fellow famous Argentinian Lionel Messi wrote in an Instagram story alongside a photo of the two of them: "A Pope who was different, close and Argentinian... may Pope Francis rest in peace. Thank you for making the world a better place. We are going to miss you."

Members of other religions, including the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, also offered words of support.

"The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami (RAGM) extend our condolences to the Catholic community over the death of Pope Francis, who prioritized friendships with leaders across faith communities, including the Jewish community," their statement on X reads in part.

The post went on to say that Francis "condemned antisemitism as a 'sin,'" and that the community's "thoughts are with our Catholic brothers and sisters in mourning. May his legacy of service continue to inspire people of good faith around the world."

The Italian consulate in Miami also posted a message from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani about Francis' death on X. Tajani called him a "great Pontiff" and a "friend of Italy."

"Holy Father, protect us from up there," the post reads.

South Florida Catholics react to the death of Pope Francis

Mary Fernandez, a Coral Gables resident, was in shock when NBC6 crews told her about the Pope's passing on Monday morning.

“[God] gave him the time to say bye to everyone in this holy week, which is very special for us,” she said outside the Church of the Little Flower.

Fernandez recalled going on a missionary trip in 2000. She said she and her husband had the pleasure of meeting the pontiff in Argentina, before he became the leader of the Catholic Church.

"He invited the priest that we were traveling with to lunch," she said, remembering him as an "open, simple and honest man."

But resident Juan Alvarez said his death is not just one of sadness.

“The Easter season is a season of joy, and I’m sure Pope Francis wanted us to remember him in a joyful manner," he said. "Yes, it’s sad because we will not have him, but it’s a moment in which we know he is passing into a better life in heaven."