Eamonn Holmes has paid a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis, who died today aged 88.
Speaking on GB News this morning, Eamonn reflected on the pontiff's character, saying: "The thing I will always remember about this pope was his humility."
The presenter highlighted what he described as Francis' "lack of grandness and a great ordinariness."
The Pope passed away at his Vatican residence early this morning, ending a papacy that began in 2013.
Tributes have poured in for the Pope
GB NEWS / REUTERS
The Vatican announced his death in a statement, saying: "At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father."
Cardinal Kevin Farrell expressed "deep sorrow" in confirming the news.
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Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed this morningGettyThe Pope's death came just hours after he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday to wish the gathered crowd a happy Easter.
Francis had recently survived a serious bout of double pneumonia, having been hospitalised in February for treatment.
In his tribute, Eamonn noted Francis' historic position in the Catholic Church, saying: "He was the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Americas and southern hemisphere."
The GB News star added that Francis was "the first pope raised from outside of Europe since the eighth century."
Eamonn Holmes and Ellie Costello reflected on the Pope's legacy this morning
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Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as he was known before becoming pope, surprised many Church watchers when he was elected in 2013.
He chose to live in a community setting rather than the ornate papal apartments used by his predecessors.
Eamonn outlined Francis' journey to the papacy, noting: "He was ordained in 1969 and he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998."
"Only created a cardinal 24 years ago by Pope John Paul II and following the resignation of Pope Benedict in 2013, he was then elected."
"12 years after being made a cardinal, he was elected as the successor to Pope Benedict."
Francis inherited a Church facing challenges including a child sex abuse scandal and internal Vatican conflicts.
Throughout his nearly 12-year papacy, Francis became known for his focus on the poor and marginalised.
He drew huge crowds during his foreign travels as he promoted interfaith dialogue and peace.
Despite facing criticism from conservatives within the Church, Francis became a global figure admired beyond Catholic circles.
His papacy was marked by efforts to reshape the 2,000-year-old institution while maintaining its core values.
