KUWAIT CITY, April 22, (Agencies): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah mourned on Monday in a cable sent to Cardinal of the Catholic Church Giovanni Battista Re, the demise of Pope Francis at the age of 88 years old. In his cable, His Highness the Amir expressed his sorrow and praised the Pope’s great contributions, including the Pope’s courageous stances, which supported peace and coexistence, and became a model of religious tolerance and bringing people together, and forgiveness throughout his career.

Similarly, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah mourned on Monday in a cable sent to Cardinal of the Catholic Church Giovanni Battista Re, the demise of Pope Francis. In his cable, Sheikh Sabah expressed sorrow on the demise of Pope Francis at the age of 88 years old, and after long battle with illness. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also sent a similar cable to Cardinal of the Catholic Church Giovanni Battista Re.

In his cable, Sheikh Ahmad expressed his sorrow on the demise of Pope Francis at the age of 88 years old, and after a long battle with illness. Meanwhile, the Vatican Embassy in Kuwait has announced that the book of condolences for the passing of Pope Francis will be open on Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24, reports Al-Seyassah daily. In a press statement, the embassy explained that the book will be available for signing at the embassy on Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A prayer service for the late Pope will be held at the Holy Family Cathedral in Kuwait City, led by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent, on Friday at 9:15 am.

Pope Francis will be laid to rest Saturday after lying in state for three days in St. Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met Tuesday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. U.S. President Donald Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend, and Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected.