TOKYO, April 21, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan expressed his condolences Monday over the death of Pope Francis, remembering him as a defender of the environment and diplomacy in the name of peace.

"The demise of Pope Francis is not only a great loss for the people of Vatican and Catholics, but also for the international community," Ishiba said in a statement issued late Monday.