Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], April 21 (ANI): Former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88.
In a post on X, Patnaik said that the Pope's Papacy was exemplified by compassion, humility and promotion of interfaith dialogue.
"Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Holiness #PopeFrancis. His Papacy was exemplified by compassion, humility and promotion of interfaith dialogue. May his soul rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with his millions of fans and followers," the leader of the opposition in the Odisha assembly said.

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik also paid tribute to Pope Francis with a sand sculpture at Puri beach. The sculpture, created using 8 tonnes of sand and standing 8 feet tall, served as a tribute to what the artist called a "huge loss for the world."

"Today was a huge loss for the world. Everyone is paying tribute to Pope Francis. As an artist, I have created this sculpture as an artist that has been created using 8 tonnes of sand and is 8 feet high," he said.
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, the Vatican announced. He had a day ago celebrated Easter and given his customary Easter address in the Vatican square.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was ordained a priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he was elected as the 266th Pope on March 13, 2013. He chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.
After a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale, the process of choosing the next pope begins.
The next pope will be chosen by a College of Cardinals, the Catholic church's most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, in Rome in the next few days for the conclave. As of April 19, there are 252 cardinals from over 70 countries, of whom 135 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Pope Francis, stating that the Pontiff's "affection for the people of India will always be cherished."
"Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," PM Modi said on X.
"I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-around development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace," the Prime Minister said. (ANI)