Rector Antonella Polimeni, on behalf of herself and the entire Sapienza community, expresses her deep sorrow for the passing of Pope Francis.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was an enlightened spiritual guide, able to transmit the values of acceptance, peace and social justice with humility and strength.
His message of hope and fraternity will remain a precious legacy not only for the believers, but for the entire world.

Elected on March 13, 2013 following the resignation of Benedict XVI, Pope Bergoglio became the 266th elected Pontiff of the Catholic Church. His pontificate has been marked by a constant gaze towards the weakest, the migrants, the poor, the marginalised: among his recent activities, despite his health problems, he wanted to visit the Regina Coeli prison's inmates. Throughout his 12-year pontificate, his call for peace was a constant reminder, until yesterday, for the Easter message that preceded the Urbi et Orbi blessing in St Peter's Square, in front of some 35,000 believers. For the very last time, the Pope appealed to the world's political leaders, urging them not to give in to fear, but to use the means at their disposal to help those in need, to fight hunger and to promote development initiatives: the true "weapons" of peace. "There can be no peace without genuine disarmament! The need for each people to provide for their own defence must not become a general arms race," said Monsignor Diego Ravelli, to whom the Pope entrusted his words.

Pope Bergoglio passed away at the age of 88. As a sign of mourning, Sapienza will hoist the flags on the Minerva Square at half-mast.