President Christine Carla Kangaloo was among leaders who expressed condolences and loss after the death of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, better known as Pope Francis, the world's first Latin American Pontiff, describing him as a transformational leader.
Francis died on April 21 at 7.35 am. He was 88. The Vatican said Francis died of a cerebral stroke which put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.
Kangaloo sent condolences on the pope's passing in a letter to Cardinal Giovanni Battista.
"(He) will be remembered as a transformational leader whose legacy transcended borders, faiths and ideologies," Kangaloo said in a media release on April 21.
"His holiness served with deep compassion, humility, and unwavering dedication to uplifting the marginalised and addressing the most pressing social challenges of our time. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was a vocal advocate for peace, poverty alleviation, climate action and the protection of human rights - issues that continue to resonate across the world.
"Pope Francis brought a unique and empathetic voice to the Vatican, reshaping the global church's mission with a focus on mercy, inclusivity, and social justice. His leadership inspired millions and opened new paths for dialogue among people of diverse beliefs."
Prime Minister Stuart Young, in a social media post, described Francis as a great and yet humble leader, who was known for his promotion of international diplomacy.
'Pope Francis focused on uplifting the poor and vulnerable…He approached modern topics with an open mind and was not afraid to suggest the need for change. He was a known advocate for action on climate change and showed genuine concern with the regard for treatment of migrants and often called for more protection for migrants and others who found themselves in vulnerable circumstances.
'As we celebrate the life of Pope Francis…I join with the Catholic church in prayer that the next pope will be chosen, mindful of the world we now live in and the challenges that we face as a people.'
Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar described him as one of the world's best champions of humanity, freedom, and global unity. She said he was beloved, extolled and heralded by global leaders for his activism in these causes, and veritably seen as a universal guide and authority figure.
"His natural charm, deep humility, genuine love for the poor and keen interest and championing of contemporary issues like global climate change endeared him to not just the Catholic community but the entire world, casting him as humanity's moral conscience.
"His life will forever serve to us all as a reminder of our obligation to build a culture, locally and globally, in which the strong protect the weak, and justice, fairness, dignity and progressiveness is God's ultimate gift for humanity, which all are duty bound to embody in a life of public and personal service."
UN Secretary General António Guterres said Francis was a messenger of hope, humility and humanity.
"He was a transcend
