'The People's Pope': Joe Biden Pays Tribute To Pope Francis For 'Consequential' Leadership

Former President Joe Biden said Pope Francis was “unlike any who came before him” as he paid tribute to “the People’s Pope” on Monday.

Biden, the second Roman Catholic U.S. president, described the late pontiff as “one of the most consequential leaders of our time” as world leaders reacted to the news of the 88-year-old’s death.

Francis, who hailed from Argentina and was the Catholic Church’s first Latin leader, took the world by storm by pushing the church to become less “obsessed” with culture war issues such as gay marriage and abortion.

In a social media post on Monday, Biden hailed Francis’ progressive approach to his role.

“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 on X, formerly Twitter.

The former president, who previously acknowledged the pontiff had brought him “great solace” following the death of his son Beau, said Francis “commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis.”

He continued: “He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone.”

“He was the People’s Pope — a light of faith, hope, and love,” Biden concluded.

Francis died Monday as he was recovering from a bout of pneumonia.