Abbot of Xizu Temple Shi Wule mourns Pope Francis

On April 21, local time, the Vatican issued an announcement that Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. that day at the age of 88.

Zen Master Shi Wu Le of Xizu Temple expressed his condolences on the passing of the Pope. The condolence is as follows:
"I am deeply saddened to hear that the 266th Pope Francis has passed away. Pope Francis was a man of profound knowledge, courageous in reform, and compassionate to all living beings. Pope Francis once exchanged letters with Chinese President Xi Jinping and became the first Roman Pontiff to pass through Chinese airspace. He signed the "Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery" with many religious leaders from the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam. He was keenly concerned about protecting the environment and eliminating poverty and racial exclusion. He called on leaders of all countries to put aside party and ideological interests and work hard to truly seek the common interests of mankind. With such a broad mind, he is truly a saint of his generation. I, Wu Le, have always wanted to benefit all living beings. I admire and respect Pope Francis. Although he is gone, his spirit lives on! May the world work together to promote peace and comfort the saint!"

Abbot of the Xizu Temple in Madagascar, Shi Wule, mourns