The Dalai Lama joined global leaders in mourning the death of Pope Francis, calling the late pontiff a symbol of humility and service. In a statement from his residence in exile in Dharamsala, India, the Tibetan spiritual leader expressed deep sadness and praised the Pope for living a life of “simple, but meaningful” purpose.
“Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others… consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life,” the Dalai Lama said in an AFP report. “The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can.”
Buddhist monks at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamsala were set to hold a memorial service in honor of the Pope, who passed away at age 88. His death resonates deeply with Tibetan Buddhists, many of whom view the Dalai Lama as a figure akin to a pope for their communities across the Himalayas, Mongolia, and parts of Russia.
Penpa Tsering, the democratically elected head of the India-based Tibetan government-in-exile, also paid tribute to Pope Francis, describing him as someone who “embodied the true spirit of compassion and universal brotherhood.”
“In these difficult times, we stand in solidarity with the global Catholic community in mourning this profound loss,” Tsering said. “May Pope Francis’s vision of a more compassionate and just world continue to guide us all.”
