Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed mourns the passing of Pope Francis

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, mourned the death of Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, who passed away at the age of 88.

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed said, “I extend my deepest condolences to Catholics around the world on the passing of Pope Francis, who dedicated his life to promoting the principles of peaceful coexistence and understanding. May he rest in peace.”

Pope Francis will go down in history as a humble pontiff, a champion of underdogs who forged a more compassionate Catholic Church while stopping short of overhauling centuries-old dogma.

Dubbed "the people's Pope", the Argentine pontiff loved being among his flock and was popular with the faithful, though he faced bitter opposition from traditionalists within the Church.

The first pope from the Americas and the southern hemisphere, he staunchly defended the most disadvantaged, from migrants to communities battered by climate change, which he warned was a crisis caused by humankind.