President Higgins leads Irish tributes to the late Pope Francis

Pope Francis with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland in 2018. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

President Michael D Higgins has led tributes from Ireland following the death of Pope Francis, remembering him as a spiritual leader of profound humility and a champion of global ethics in the face of modern challenges.

The Vatican confirmed the Pope’s death this morning. He had been recovering from pneumonia in recent weeks.