The death of Pope Francis this morning sparked a stream of tributes from members of Bermuda’s Roman Catholic community.

Michael Dunkley, a former One Bermuda Alliance Premier who met the Pope in 2016, said he was “full of sadness” when he found out about the news.

He added: “It’s a day of mourning for all Catholics around the world and for many people who had the pleasure of meeting the Pope.

“He epitomised empathy and standing up for people, which we need more of today.

“He will be a great loss but I think that he set a standard and he will always be remembered.”

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, died in the early hours of this morning, aged 88.

Mr Dunkley and his family attended a Mass hosted by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square — the plaza in front of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City — where they sat alongside thousands of worshippers.

He later offered the Pope several gifts, which included a cedar plaque carved by a man who was at the time a Westgate inmate.

Mr Dunkley, who was raised Catholic, described Pope Francis as a “people person”.

He said he remembered his daughter offering the Catholic leader a T-shirt from her Jesuit school and the Pope then asking for the item to be included in a photograph with him.

Mr Dunkley added: “I was really impressed by the way he handled himself and how down to earth he was.

“He was a people’s person and it was a moment that my family will always treasure.”

Mr Dunkley said he invited Pope Francis to visit Bermuda — something that the Pope showed interest in but never accomplished.

However, Mr Dunkley said that he later received a call on behalf of the Pope, who was at the time flying over Bermuda to Philadelphia.

Mr Dunkley explained: “I think it was a weekend when I was home, I got a call from air traffic control in the airport and they said ‘we’ve got a call for you that the Pope is flying over Bermuda to Philadelphia and he would just like to send his blessing from above as he’s flying over’.”

He added: “That was very kind of him to remember us and to spend some time to just reach out to us.

“He didn’t forget about Bermuda and he certainly doesn’t forget about people who had faith and people who needed help.

“He was certainly a man who stood out in this turbulent world and we should be thankful for all that he did.”

Mr Dunkley said that Pope Francis was an example of a leader who led through empathy — something he attempted to do through his time in politics.

He added that, although it was sad to hear of the Pope’s death, he was likely in “a much better place” after being ill for some time.

Mr Dunkley said: “He served and made a huge difference and for that I’m very thankful.”

Pope Francis was the first person from the Americas and Southern Hemisphere to take up the papacy.

He took up the post in March 2013 and became known for his advocacy for the environment, as well as for migrants and refugees.

Pope Francis held the Synod on Synodality between October 2023 and October 2024, which selected bishops from around the world to counsel him on the direction of the Catholic Church.

Women were allowed to vote during the synod for the first time in the Church’s history.

The event was seen as the culmination of Pope Francis’s papacy and the most important event in the Church since the Second Vatican Council, which modernised the Church.

Mount Saint Agnes Academy honoured the death of the Pope with a school-wide prayer and flew the flag at half-mast.

Pupils also set up memorials around the school.

Anna Faria-Machado, the principal of the Catholic school, said: “It is with deep sorrow that we join with our local Catholic community — and the global Church — in mourning the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis.

“His life was a testament to humility, compassion and a deep love for all people, especially the poor, the marginalised and the young.

“Pope Francis was a tireless advocate for youth, often reminding young people that they are not only the future of the Church, but its present.

“His call for them to be courageous, joyful and rooted in faith continues to inspire our mission in Catholic education.

“As a school grounded in these same Gospel values, we give thanks for his leadership and example.

“May his words and witness live on in the hearts of our students and community.“