Actress Whoopi Goldberg is among the floods of famous faces who have paid tribute to Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church since 2013, who died at the age of 88 on Monday.

Tributes have poured in from around the world, with Goldberg, 69, among those sharing heartfelt messages on social media.

The Pope died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta at 7:35 this morning, just hours after his final public appearance on Easter Sunday.

Goldberg remembered the pope on Instagram, posting a photo from their 2023 meeting alongside a touching caption.

“He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and none believer,” she began in an Instagram post.

She continued: “He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances with your love of humanity & Laughter.” (sic)

Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the Pope’s death in a statement, saying: “At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”

“His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalized,” Farrell continued.

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88

For nearly 12 years, Francis served as the head of the Catholic Church.

The Pope’s death came just hours after he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, April 20, to wish the gathered crowd a happy Easter.

After being released from hospital on March 23, Francis came out of convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people on St. Peter’s Square.

US Vice President JD Vance, who met with Francis on Easter Sunday, was the last official to have a visit with the pope.

Pope Francis was first hospitalised on February 14 when he was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for bronchitis.

His condition later developed into double pneumonia, affecting both of his lungs.

Despite doctors initially reporting improvement, his health suffered a “sudden worsening” on February 28 due to “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm”.

A bronchospasm occurs when the muscles in the airways tighten, limiting oxygen intake, according to medical experts.

French President Emmanuel Macron also paid tribute, writing on social media: “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest.”

“May it unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him. My wife and I send our thoughts to all Catholics and to the grieving world,” Macron added.

Goldberg paid tribute to the Pope, who died on Monday

Vance wrote that his “heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”

Goldberg had previously met with Pope Francis in 2023 and spoke highly of him on “The View,” saying: “He’s a human being as it turns out, which is what I really like, and he is doing his best to be a human for everybody.”

In June 2024, she joined nearly 100 comedians from around the world to visit the Holy Father in Vatican City.

Throughout his papacy, Francis focused on welcoming all and reaching out to the world’s peripheries.