Hearts & Minds: Leaders choose their words carefully to mark Pope’s passing

Fascinating, the language of diplomacy used to mark the Pope’s passing. For Donald Trump, no fan of His Holiness’s prioritising of marginalised communities, climate change, and inclusivity (he once called Francis ‘disgraceful’), it was a simple ‘Rest in Peace, Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!’ Later, the president said he and the First Lady will attend the funeral, albeit with another, trademark punchy exclamation mark: ‘We look forward to being there!’

Someone who shared Francis’s views on some issues was King Charles: ‘His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others.’

Likewise, Sir Keir Starmer. He was ‘a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty.’ As if that was not clear enough, Starmer added: ‘With his death, we are reminded once more of his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs.’ 

Emmanuel Macron trod a similarly selective path and looked back and forward: ‘From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite Humans with each other and with nature. May this hope perpetually rise beyond him.’ Ursula von der Leyen expressed ‘the idea that Pope Francis’ legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world.’

Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, had lost an ally: ‘You stood up and spoke out - relentlessly - for the poor, the persecuted, the victims of war, the refugees, the migrants. May you continue to give us faith and courage in this brutal world.’

The leader with the trickiest task was Javier Milei of Argentina, Francis’s home country, where he was adored. Francis and Milei were not aligned, hence the absence of warmth: ‘Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honor for me.’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seized the opportunity to remind: ‘He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.’

Come to think of it, these, and more subtleties and nuances, could belong to a book and film by Robert Harris.

Chris Blackhurst is one of the UK’s foremost business journalists. He was previously Editor of The Independent and City Editor of the Evening Standard.