Dutch King and Queen mourn Pope Francis, recall 2017 Vatican visit

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands said Monday they were “deeply moved” by the death of Pope Francis, remembering him as a man who radiated compassion and lived in service of the vulnerable.

“We remember our personal meetings with him warmly, including during our state visit to the Holy See in 2017,” the royal couple said in a written statement. “Pope Francis radiated mercy in everything he did.”

Francis died Monday at the age of 88 in his residence at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, according to the Vatican’s official news service. His death came just one day after he appeared in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City to offer Easter blessings to thousands of worshipers and guests.

The Dutch monarchs praised the pope’s unshakable faith and commitment to compassion and humanity. “From a rock-solid belief in God's love, he championed compassion and humanity,” they said. “Living simply and modestly, he always chose the side of the vulnerable and those in need.”

“Pope Francis was deeply convinced that God works through humility and compassion. He actively sought to connect with other faith communities around the world,” the king and queen said.

The monarchs described the late pope as someone who “embodied the listening and loving Church and succeeded in winning the hearts of many—both within the Roman Catholic Church and beyond. We cherish his memory with gratitude.”

Shared history with the Netherlands

The royal couple met with Pope Francis multiple times, most notably during their 2017 state visit to the Vatican. On Thursday, June 22 of that year, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima were received in an official audience by the pope in Vatican City. The visit included a stop at the Friezenkerk, a symbol of the centuries-old ties between the Netherlands and the Holy See.

During the same visit, King Willem-Alexander was presented with a historic item in the Biblioteca Apostolica: a commander’s baton attributed to William of Orange. The baton had been captured by Catholic Spanish forces during the 1574 Battle of Mookerheide, where they defeated Dutch Protestant rebels. The artifact, bearing William’s coat of arms, was loaned to the king by the Jesuit convent of Sant Cugat in Catalonia. It was later displayed in the National Military Museum in Soesterberg during a 2018 exhibition on William of Orange.

Queen Máxima, like Pope Francis, was born in Argentina. The royal couple also attended the pope’s inaugural Mass in 2013 as members of the Dutch delegation, before Willem-Alexander became king.

The Dutch royal statement followed a wave of tributes from world leaders and Dutch officials. Prime Minister Dick Schoof said earlier Monday that he remembered Pope Francis “with deep respect.” Minister of Justice David van Weel, who met with the pope a day before his death, described the encounter as “a very special moment” and said, “My thoughts are with all those affected by his passing.”

Pope Francis had longstanding ties to the Netherlands. In February, he designated Amsterdam’s Basilica of Saint Nicholas as a cathedral in honor of the city’s 750th anniversary. The church, located near Central Station, was elevated to co-cathedral status in the Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam, making the Dutch capital an episcopal see for the first time. The diocese called the move “the culmination of centuries of Catholic presence” in the city.

Pope Francis’ passing follows his final Easter message, delivered just one day before his death on Sunday, April 20. During his Easter address in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis offered blessings to thousands of worshipers, including Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel.

The address might have reminded some of a previous moment of gratitude from Pope Francis. In 2018, the pope thanked the Netherlands for providing 50,000 flowers that decorated St. Peter's Square for the Easter celebration. The flowers, grown by Dutch florist Bart Bergman, were arranged by a team of 25 people. That year, the pope’s Easter speech focused on global conflicts in Syria, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela, as well as the hope for peace on the Korean Peninsula.