Dar es Salaam, April 24 -- DAR ES SALAAM: ACADEMICS in the country have paid glowing tributes to Pope Francis (pictured), describing him as a rare gift to the Catholic Church who strived for the common good of all people and the Earth.

Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta.

He is scheduled to be buried on Saturday at the Basilica of St Mary Major. In a statement availed to the ‘Daily News yesterday, former Executive Secretary of the Association of Catholic Universities and Higher Institutes of Africa and Madagascar (ACUHIAM), Dr George Mutalemwa, said that Pope Francis set iconic ideals worth emulating.

He mentioned ideals such as humility, wi...