Pope Francis was 'a blessing to humanity' - Speaker Bagbin

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has paid tribute to Pope Francis.

In a Facebook post, Mr Bagbin expressed sorrow at the news, describing it as a heavy blow to many Catholic faithful.

He recalled that the Pope had only recently led the Church through the sacred triduum before his passing.

“Oh? Pope Francis just celebrated the sacred triduum with us, the flock and departed so soon after. This is a blow to many faithful, but God knows best. It shall be well with our souls,” Mr Bagbin wrote.

He described the late pontiff as “a blessing to humanity” and encouraged believers to celebrate his life with joy.

Mr Bagbin also reflected on the spiritual lessons to be drawn from the Pope’s passing.

“His passing reminds us to always be prepared to go to Zion, anytime, any day, anywhere, the beautiful city of God,” he added.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis became the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church in March 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI.

He was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas.

Throughout his tenure, he was widely recognised for his advocacy for humility, social justice, and reforms within the Church.