In a statement released by his office, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he joins the world in mourning the pope's passing.
"Pope Francis was a transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice," Guterres wrote. "He leaves behind a legacy of faith, service and compassion for all — especially those left on the margins of life or trapped by the horrors of conflict."
The secretary-general recalled the pope's visit to the U.N. headquarters in 2015 and his contribution to the international efforts to combat climate change.
Guterres said Pope Francis understood that "protecting our common home is, at heart, a deeply moral mission and responsibility," adding that "our divided and discordant world will be a much better place if we follow his example of unity and mutual understanding in our own actions."
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