Ayatollah Sistani made the remarks in a statement published by his office on Monday, after the Vatican announced that the pontiff had passed away at Saint Martha's House in Vatican City earlier in the day.
"We received with deep sorrow the news of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican, who enjoyed a high spiritual standing among many peoples of the world," Ayatollah Sistani said.
"He was held in high esteem by all, for his distinguished role in serving the causes of peace and tolerance, and for expressing solidarity with the oppressed and persecuted throughout the world,” he added.
The top Iraqi cleric further described his “historic” meeting with the late Pope in the city of Najaf in 2021 as a “significant milestone,” saying the encounter had underlined the importance of faith and shared values in overcoming the major challenges facing humanity in this era.
“It also emphasized the urgent need for collective efforts to foster a culture of peaceful coexistence, to reject violence and hatred, and to uphold the principles of human fraternity based on mutual respect and the protection of rights among followers of all religions and philosophical paths,” he added.
Ayatollah Sistani offered his condolences to followers of the Catholic Church and prayed for patience and solace for them, and that God may bless humanity with goodness, mercy and peace.
Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on Monday.
His death came just one day after he made a brief appearance before thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for Easter Sunday.
In his final address on Easter Sunday, he called for an end to the war on Gaza.
The Pope, who suffered from chronic lung disease, was hospitalized in February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.
After five weeks of treatment, he was discharged from the hospital last month.
The new Pope has to be chosen by the Catholic Church’s most senior officials, known as the College of Cardinals.