Princess Madeleine of Sweden was among the royals paying tribute to Pope Francis following his passing. The mom of three took to her personal Instagram on Monday to share a photo of her eldest child, Princess Leonore, meeting the late pontiff in 2015. The image shows then-one-year-old Leonore, who was dressed in a white dress and cardigan, sweetly reaching her hand out to the pope, while sitting on her maternal grandmother Queen Silvia's lap.
The photo was taken during the Swedish Queen's audience with the pope held at the Vatican. Madeleine and her husband Christopher O'Neill were also present for the audience.
Alongside the throwback photo on Instagram, Princess Madeleine penned, "Dear Pope Francis, thank you for the compassion and courage you showed in defending vulnerable and exploited children. Your voice gave hope to those who felt invisible, and your actions helped bring safety, dignity, and love to so many who had known only pain."
"I will always be grateful for the light you brought into the lives of the most forgotten," she added. "Your kindness and courage will always be remembered 🕊️My family and I will always cherish the memory of meeting you."
Pope Francis, who became pope in 2013, passed away on April 21, 2025. His Holiness was 88. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the pope's death on Easter Monday, saying (via Vatican News): "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."
After the pope's passing, Madeleine's father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, released a statement, which translated to English read: "The Queen and I remember Pope Francis with great respect and warmth. By virtue of his natural charisma, deep humility, and unwavering defense of human dignity, the Pope was a significant leader."
"Many in our country particularly appreciated Pope Francis' historic visit to Lund almost ten years ago. We remember with warmth the ecumenical service when Lutherans and Catholics gathered under the arches of the cathedral to leave historical conflicts behind in a spirit of reconciliation and understanding," His Majesty continued. "The Pope also received the Queen at the Vatican several times to jointly shed light on the many injustices that the world's children are forced to endure. On this day, we look back with gratitude on the Pope's commitment to the world's vulnerable. Our thoughts go out to Catholics around the world who have lost a great leader and role model."