Pope Francis dead at 88; Dutch PM pays tribute with “deep respect”
Pope Francis died Monday at the age of 88 in his residence at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City, the Vatican confirmed. His death came a day after he appeared in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City to offer Easter blessings to thousands of worshipers and guests, including Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel.
Van Weel (VVD) took a moment to reflect on his meeting with the pope during the holiday weekend. “A very special moment,” he wrote on social media. “My thoughts are with all those affected by his passing.”
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof honored the pope’s legacy in a personal statement. He remembered Pope Francis with “deep respect,” writing on X, “With his deeply lived simplicity, devotion, and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for very many people, even for non-Catholics.” He continued: “He was in everything a man among the people. The global Catholic community is saying farewell to a leader who saw and named the needs of our time.”
CDA leader Henri Bontenbal said he was “saddened” by Pope Francis’ passing. “This Pope gave the Catholic Church a human face. His circular letter Laudato Si has inspired many, including me, to stand up for creation and the poor,” the leader of the Netherlands’ largest Christian party said.
GroenLinks-PvdA leader Frans Timmermans praised Pope Francis for his commitment to the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. “He tried to get the church off the ultra-conservative line, sometimes with success. He was warm, understanding, and empathetic. A people’s person. Rest in peace.”
“With the passing of Pope Francis, the world loses a spiritual leader who was significant to many. My thoughts are with the Roman Catholic community worldwide and all who mourn,” said VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz.
The Vatican’s news service said the pontiff passed away peacefully. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, led the Roman Catholic Church from 2013 until his death. During his papacy, he was widely regarded for his focus on humility, service, and outreach to marginalized communities.
Pope Francis' decision to elevate the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Amsterdam to a cathedral for the city's 750th anniversary was made earlier this year. In February, the Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam announced that Pope Francis had elevated the Basilica of Saint Nicholas—located near Amsterdam Centraal Station—to the status of a cathedral.
“This gift from Pope Francis marks the culmination of centuries of Catholic presence in the Dutch capital,” said pastor-dean Eric Dennis at the time. While the Cathedral of Saint Bavo in Haarlem will remain the head church of the diocese, the Amsterdam church will carry the title of co-cathedral. Bishop Jan Hendriks is set to formally assume the bishop's seat in Amsterdam on March 8.
The basilica, dedicated to Saint Nicholas—the patron saint of Amsterdam—has long held historical and spiritual significance. Originally named a basilica in 2012, it houses a relic of Saint Nicholas: a rib bone that was transferred from Egmond Abbey in 2021, where it had rested for nearly a thousand years.
Amsterdam’s ties to the Catholic Church date back centuries. The Church donated the land on which the city’s first houses were built, and in 1300, Amsterdam received its city rights from the bishop. In 1345, the so-called Miracle of Amsterdam occurred when a consecrated host vomited into a fireplace reportedly remained intact. The event led to an annual procession and made the city a destination for Catholic pilgrims.
