Former President Muhammadu Buhari has said the death of Pope Francis is a loss to the poor and migrants who see him as a friend.

Buhari said this as he joined Christians all across the world in mourning the demise of the Head of the Catholic Church who departed the earth on Easter Monday.

In a reaction to the news of the death, the former President said Christians in Nigeria and all over the world would miss the exemplary leadership of the church by a Pope who served the poor and the weak, and cared much about migrants and refugees.

"He was a Pope who strove to build a beneficial, complementary relationship between the followers of the world's two greatest religions — Islam and Christianity.

"Just hours before his demise, he made a call for an end to the war in Gaza. I hope Israel and Hamas will heed this call in final respect to the Pope who had the distinction of bringing climate change to the Vatican, and recognising the Palestinian State," said the former President.

The former President wished for a new leader who will build on the inspiring legacies of Pope Francis.