Biden mourns Pope Francis: 'He was unlike any who came before him'

Former President Biden joined Catholics and others mourning the death of Pope Francis on Monday, calling the late pontiff "a light of faith, hope and love."

"He was unlike any who came before him," Biden, 82, wrote in a post on the social media platform X just hours after the pope passed away after celebrating Easter. "Above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the People's Pope — a light of faith, hope and love."

Biden, who was the country's second Roman Catholic president after President John F. Kennedy, regularly attended Mass in Washington, D.C., and Delaware during his time in the White House and often spoke about his Catholic faith.

He had a private one-on-one visit with Pope Francis less than a year after being elected. It was the former vice president's fourth meeting with the pope.

Pope Francis, 88, who hailed from Argentina and was the Catholic Church's first Latin leader, died at the Vatican early Monday morning after battling a series of health setbacks related to chronic lung disease.

"Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him," Biden wrote in his online post on his passing. "For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased. As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths."

Biden also praised Pope Francis's dedication to the poor, the environment and other social causes.

"He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless," Biden wrote. "He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe."