KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao joined the Catholic Church in mourning the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

In a statement, BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua said the passing of Pope Francis brought profound sadness.

Macacua said that the Pontiff was a beacon of hope and a tireless advocate for peace, justice, and interfaith dialogue.

"Testament to this were his persistent and heartfelt appeals for peace in the Middle East, especially in the face of atrocities in Palestine," Macacua said.

In this time of mourning, Macacua added, the Bangsamoro people stand in solidarity with the Christian community.

"We reaffirm our commitment to fostering a society where peace and mutual respect are the cornerstones of our existence."

A day before his death, the leader of the Catholic Church said that he chose to express his “closeness to the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people” in his Easter Sunday address at Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

"I appeal to the warring parties: Call a ceasefire, release the hostages, and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace," the Pope said.

"I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger and to encourage initiatives that promote development. These are the ‘weapons’ of peace: Weapons that build the future, instead of sowing seeds of death," he said.

Macacua added that the Pope was a source of moral clarity as he continuously urged world leaders to depart from war and instead seek peaceful resolutions.

"These were not mere pronouncements, but a call to action and a reminder of our shared humanity."