"The death of His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church, constitutes a hard blow for the world and an immense loss for Catholic Christians, who saw in him one of the great hopes for building a more just and balanced world, for having been a leader committed to peace, social justice and the most disadvantaged," wrote João Lourenço in the book opened in the nunciature.
"I present to the Vatican State and to the faithful of the Catholic Church throughout the world, on behalf of the Angolan Executive and on my own behalf, our most heartfelt condolences for the physical passing of this distinguished universal personality," he added.
According to a statement from the Presidency of the Republic, to which VerAngola had access, on this trip, the head of state was accompanied by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço.
"Early this afternoon, Thursday 24th, the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, accompanied by the First Lady, went to the Embassy of the Vatican State in Luanda, to pay tribute to Pope Francis, who died on Monday morning", reads the note.
"At the headquarters of the Vatican diplomatic mission in Angola, the head of state was received by the apostolic nuncio of Angola and São Tomé, Monsignor Kryspin Dubiel, with whom he spoke about the mournful moment that the Catholic Church and the Christian community, in general, have been experiencing since the death of the Holy Father," the statement added.
This is not the first statement by the President of the Republic regarding the death of Pope Francis. On Monday, after the announcement of the death of the Supreme Pontiff, the head of state sent a message of condolences to the Vatican.
Pope Francis died last Monday, aged 88.
