Many across Africa have said they felt connected with the pope, who often spoke about issues at the heart of the region, from climate change to marginalisation.

The pope was “very unambiguous in telling world powers to stop exploiting Africans,” said the Reverend Michael Nsikak Umoh, spokesperson for the Nigerian bishops’ association.

In Congo, where pope visited in 2023 to demand that foreign powers stop plundering Africa’s natural resources, Abbé Camille Esika in the capital, Kinshasa, said Francis “wanted to be the voice of the voiceless”.

The pope visited Africa five times, acknowledging the strong growth of the Catholic Church there. The South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has encouraged all Catholics to pray for those choosing his successor.