Martin Scorsese, who has grappled with Catholic faith in several of his films, called Pope Francis, "in every way, a remarkable human being" in a statement to Variety. "He acknowledged his own failings. He radiated wisdom. He radiated goodness. He had an ironclad commitment to the good. He knew in his soul that ignorance was a terrible plague on humanity. So he never stopped learning. And he never stopped enlightening.

And, he embraced, preached and practiced forgiveness. Universal and constant forgiveness.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Francis "a shepherd of deep moral clarity, spiritual courage, and boundless compassion" and someone who reminded the world that "ecological degradation and social injustice are deeply intertwined."

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said in a statement Monday that his apology was "a testament to his commitment to respect, dialogue and collaboration across cultures and faiths — values he held dear throughout his papacy."