Pope Leo XIV Honors Predecessor Francis on Anniversary of His Death

Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, on Tuesday, marking the first anniversary of Francis' death. Leo recalled Francis' profound impact on the church through his reflections on divine mercy and acts of solidarity with impoverished communities.

Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Equatorial Guinea, the final destination of his African tour, Leo reminisced about Francis' influential homilies and speeches. He highlighted Francis' efforts to promote human fraternity and noted the special Holy Year of 2015, dedicated to God's mercy, which Francis inaugurated during a visit to the Central African Republic.

The anniversary was observed with events in Rome, including a Mass at St. Mary Major basilica. Books were also released, commemorating Francis' legacy and his relationship with the American cardinal Robert Prevost, a figure Francis championed as a potential successor.