Vatican: World leaders have expressed their condolences and remembered Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in response to his passing.

He was referred to as a "recognised theologian, with a lifetime of devotion to the Church, guided by his principles and faith" by President Joe Biden.

In a statement, Biden said, "I had the honour of spending time with Pope Benedict at the Vatican in 2011 and will always remember his generosity and welcome as well as our fruitful conversation. ""The need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity," he said during his 2008 visit to the White House. May he continue to inspire us all with his dedication to the ministry of charity."

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British King Charles III recalled meeting Benedict during a 2009 trip to the Vatican with nostalgia.

According to a statement he released, "His visit to the United Kingdom in 2010 was important in strengthening the relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom." I also think back on his ongoing initiatives to advance world peace and goodwill as well as to improve ties between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

On behalf of Israeli citizens, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed "deepest condolences to the Christian world."

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In a statement, Netanyahu referred to Pope Benedict as "a great spiritual leader, fully committed to the historic reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people that he eloquently expressed during his historic visit to Israel in 2009." "He spoke warmly about the shared history of Christianity and Judaism and the values that this history has bestowed upon all of humanity during our meeting. He will be remembered by us as a devoted supporter of the Jewish people and the State of Israel."

The former pope "will be remembered for his unceasing efforts to find a common path in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world, including a steadfast interest in peace in Northern Ireland," Irish President Michael Higgins said in a statement.

Higgins continued, "He will be remembered for the respect both supporters and detractors accorded to the intellectual work he produced and the personal commitment he made to such within the Roman Catholic Church.

According to The Associated Press, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his condolences and thought back to a message Benedict sent following the tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, which deeply affected the people of Japan.

The president of Germany expressed his "profound impression" of the pontiff's "faith, his intellect, his wisdom, and his humility."

According to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, "this Pope bore a very special significance for us Germans also beyond the bounds of the universal Roman Catholic Church." "The election of a Pope from the birthplace of the Reformation and of an intellectual who had dedicated his life to the dialogue between faith and reason sent an important signal to many people around the world." President Sergio Mattarella declared that the nation of Italy, which is home to Vatican City, the seat of the pope, is in mourning following Benedict's passing.

In a statement, Mattarella said that Benedict "continued to serve the cause of his Church in his unique role as pope emeritus with humility and serenity," adding that "His sweetness and his wisdom had benefited our community and the entire international community."

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In his first public remarks after the former pontiff's passing, Pope Francis thanked Benedict for "his testimony of faith and prayer, especially in these final years of retired life" at a New Year's Eve vigil in Vatican City.