UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he joins the world “in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a messenger of hope, humility and humanity.”

“Pope Francis was a man of faith for all faiths – working with people of all beliefs and backgrounds to light a path forward,” Guterres said in a statement.

Praising the late pontiff, the UN chief said the world body had long drawn inspiration from his “dedication to the organisation’s goals and ideals” – something he personally expressed during their meetings.

“Our divided and discordant world will be a much better place if we follow his example of unity and mutual understanding in our own actions,” he said.