Middle East churches, Al-Azhar, leaders mourn Pope Francis

Church leaders, regional officials and Egypt’s Al-Azhar — Sunni Islam’s foremost religious institution — offered condolences this week following the death of Pope Francis, whose passing on Monday at the age of 88 drew tributes across the Middle East.

Francis passed away following struggles with a respiratory illness, having been hospitalized for more than a month starting in mid-February. His last public appearance was on Sunday, when he greeted the crowd outside the Vatican for…