The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has sent condolences on behalf of the global nursing workforce following the death of Pope Francis.
The 88-year-old Pope, head of the Catholic Church, died on Monday in his apartment at Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City.
“His unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of humanity and the sanctity of life aligns closely with the values that nurses uphold every day”
Pamela Cipriano
The Vatican said in a statement that he died of a stroke and subsequent heart failure.
He had spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year with severe pneumonia.
The ICN has written to the Catholic Church and its followers to offer condolences following his death.
ICN president Dr Pamela Cipriano said: “Throughout his life, Pope Francis was a remarkable and compassionate leader who touched the lives of millions of people around the world with his tireless efforts to promote peace, justice and care for the environment.
“His unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of humanity and the sanctity of life aligns closely with the values that nurses uphold every day.”
In January 2020, Pope Francis gave a sermon to thousands of pilgrims in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City about the launch of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.
During this speech, he said: “I am pleased to recall that 2020 has been internationally designated [the] year of the nurse and midwife.
“Nurses are the most numerous healthcare workers, and those closest to the sick, and midwives carry out perhaps the noblest of the professions.
“Let us pray for all of them, that they may do their precious work in the best possible way.”
A few months later, on International Nurses Day 2020, Pope Francis described nurses as being “guardians of life”.
His comments came as the Covid-19 pandemic had spread across the world and nurses played an integral role in supporting those with the virus.
Pope Francis said at the time that nurses “dedicate themselves to the point of putting their own health at risk”, which he noted had been demonstrated by the high number of those who had died “as a result of their faithful service”.
Then at the ICN’s virtual 2021 congress, the Pope sent a message of support to the world’s nurses, expressing his admiration for the work that they do.
The ICN said his message to the global nursing community was “warmly received” and spoke to the Pope’s “deep humanity” during a challenging time.
Meanwhile, former ICN president Annette Kennedy met Pope Francis at a conference on human trafficking in the Vatican in 2022.
She said talking with him had re-energised her to do all she could to work with nurses and communities to help rid the world of human trafficking.
