Japan joined the world in mourning after the Vatican proclaimed Pope Francis¡¯ death on Easter Monday, commending the pontiff¡¯s lifelong efforts in delivering the message of peace, which included a trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in a statement issued Monday night, said he was extremely saddened to hear the news of the pope¡¯s death.

¡°Since 2013, Pope Francis has dedicated himself to protecting the environment and promoting peaceful diplomacy with a strong voice supported by approximately 1.4 billion Catholics,¡± he said. ¡°The demise of Pope Francis is not only a great loss for the people of Vatican and Catholics, but also for the international community.¡±