Easter Monday brought with it the sorrowful news that Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88.

"At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church," the Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Ferrell said, as bells tolled across Rome.

It was news that shocked the Catholic World. He had spent 38 days in hospital, but on Easter Sunday he had emerged to bless thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis, the first Latin-American pontiff, will be remembered for his love of the poor, for being humble. He lived in the Vatican hotel instead of the Apostolic Palace, wore his old orthotic shoes and not the red loafers of the papacy.

Pope Francis was also seen as being progressive for the Church.

He was also a pope who cared very much for others, a Pope who was loved by many. He had also fought for the rights of those who were displaced and asylum seekers.

In a 2023 Associated Press interview, he declared that "being homosexual is not a crime," urging an end to civil laws that criminalize it.

Francis also changed the church's position on the death penalty, calling it inadmissible in all circumstances. He also declared the possession of nuclear weapons, not just their use, was "immoral."

This is not to say that Pope Francis hasn't had moments which saw controversy, such as over certain comments he had made in Chile. "He discredited Chilean abuse victims in 2018 and stood by a controversial bishop linked to their abuser. Realizing his error, Francis invited the victims to the Vatican for a personal mea culpa and summoned the leadership of the Chilean church to resign en masse," the Associated Press reports.

Pope Francis was also a voice for peace in a world which has become increasingly destabilised, a world where innocent victims of war are dying each day. In a speech, read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical ceremonies on Easter Sunday, Francis appealed for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as Congo and Myanmar and in other hotspots. And he made a special appeal for migrants and those affected by violence.

In 2022, Pope Francis had visited Malta, where he was given a warm welcome and was met with cheering crowds. "It is distressing to see how the enthusiasm for peace, which emerged after the Second World War, has faded in these recent decades, as has the progress of the international community, with a few powers who go ahead on their own account, seeking spaces and zones of influence," he had said in his first address on the island. This was after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but before the conflict in Gaza erupted. "Let us go back to gathering in international peace conferences, where the theme of disarmament will have a central place, where our thoughts will turn to future generations," he said at the time.

On a visit to the Peace Lab in Malta, Pope Francis used his final address of his Papal visit to speak about migration, expressing his hope that Malta would always treat those who land on its shores as it treated St. Paul - with "unusual kindness." It was a message about how the Maltese should aim to treat all the people who come to Malta.

Pope Francis also appointed a Maltese Cardinal, Mario Grech, who will now have a say in appointing the next Pope.

Leaders from across the world issued statements about the Pope's passing. French President Emmanuel Macron, said that "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him."

Ursula von der Leyen, a top European Union leader, remembered Francis as an inspiration for the entire world, not just Christians. "He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate."

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said "we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd."

Here in Malta, The President, the Archdiocese, the government, the Speaker, the Nationalist Party paid and others tribute to the memory of Pope Francis.

Over the coming days, details regarding the burial ceremony for Pope Francis will be announced, a conclave will take place and the Vatican will go through the process of electing his successor.