Pope Francis was a symbol of humility, compassion and tireless commitment to peace and justice, interim President Ilie Bolojan said on Monday.

„We learned with deep sadness about the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In these moments of mourning and grief, I convey my sincere condolences to the Catholic faithful in Romania and around the world, as well as to all those for whom Pope Francis was a spiritual beacon and a source of hope. He was a symbol of humility, compassion and tireless commitment to peace and justice,” Bolojan wrote on Facebook.

He noted that Pope Francis was also „a close friend of the Romanian people, whom he cherished for the depth of their faith and spirit”.

Pope Francis died Monday morning at the age of 88, the Vatican announced in a video statement, according to AFP and Reuters.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, was 88 and had recently survived double pneumonia.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013.

AGERPRES