European political leaders moved to express their memories, condolences, and hopes on Monday as the news of the passing of Pope Francis earlier that morning.
Much of Europe has, historically, been Catholic and remains officially so even amid the recent decades of change, excepting the Orthodox East and Protestant north. In Paris, the bells of the recently restored Notre Dame rung out 88 times for the Pope’s 88 years of age, and the Eiffel Tower will not be illuminated this evening. In churches throughout Catholic Austria, bells will rung simultaneously for ten minutes this afternoon and football matches planned for today across Italy are cancelled in mourning.
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