Heartbroken stars including Whoopi Goldberg and Eva Longoria pay tribute to Pope

Stars from around the world have begun paying tribute to the Pope following the announcement of his death.

The has reacted with grief to news that at around 7.30am today, after struggling with his health for several months. On Sunday afternoon the leader of the Vatican church blessed thousands of visitors to St Paul’s Square as he made a surprise appearance in a trip in the Popemobile for .

Whoopi Goldberg was one of the first to react to the news and alongside an image of them both she wrote: "He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and none believer. He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances with your love of humanity & Laughter."

Follow the latest on the death of Pope Francis with our

His death hours later follows claims by experts that he was a “maverick” who felt it was his duty to be with people.

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