Scottish political and religious leaders have paid tribute to Pope Francis following his death at the age of 88.

The pontiff, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, had recently been treated in hospital for pneumonia.

His death came a day after he appeared in St Peter’s Square to wish happy Easter to thousands of worshippers.

First Minister John Swinney expressed his “deep sadness” at the Vatican’s announcement.

Swinney praised the Pope for his “principled” leadership and expressed his “deepest sympathies” to the Catholic community.

The first minister hailed the pontiff’s “peacefulness and his “focus on reconciliation”.

“He was a man who was always on the side of the poor, he was always on the side of those who faced injustice,” Swinney told BBC Scotland News.

John Keenan, bishop of the diocese of Paisley, said: “I think everyone felt some kind of connection with Pope Francis.

“And so I think the sense of loss is not just in the church but it really is shared across the country and across the world.”

He met the Pope several times, once presenting him with a bottle of malt whisky in his office in the Vatican.

“Any time I met him he asked about the people of Scotland,” Keenan told BBC Scotland News.

The primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Rev Mark Strange, praised the Pope for having “positive dialogue” with his church.

He added: “His generosity and love for all of God’s creation and his willingness to be open and approachable allowed him to get close to people, and to love and be loved by so many.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he was “deeply saddened”, praising Pope Francis for dedicating his life to “serving the poor and dispossessed”.

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater hailed the Pope’s “commitment to securing peace for the people of Palestine and tackling the climate emergency”.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said it was “heartbreaking for millions of Catholics in Scotland and across the globe”.

He posted: “Pope Francis preached a message of inclusion and tolerance, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.”

Flags at the Scottish Parliament are being flown at half mast in tribute.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone expressed her “deepest sympathy” to the Catholic community on behalf of the parliament.

She added: “We will remember his compassion and humanity.”

Pope Francis had been expected to visit Scotland in 2021 for COP26, the UN climate conference.

However, he was unable to attend while he recovered from colon surgery in Rome.

In 2017, the pontiff said his church enjoyed a relationship of “true fraternity” with the Church of Scotland.

He described the relationship between the churches as one of “mutual understanding, trust and co-operation”.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, expressed his condolences following the Pope’s death.

He said: “May the blessed memory of Francis continue to serve as an example to the faithful people of God in our shared pilgrimage and in our common task of caring for God’s creation.

“May he rest in peace.”

Outside St Peter’s Church in Partick, Glasgow, Margaret Miller said Francis had been a “really good Pope”.

The churchgoer, who had just been baptised this weekend, told BBC Scotland News: “For me, he gave me a lot of hope.

“That’s what I’ll remember.”

Another churchgoer Rosella Gallagher said: “I’m so sad but he was so wonderful yesterday … so I’ve got lovely memories of his last day.”

Sciaf, the relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland, described Pope Francis as “truly remarkable”.

Chief executive Lorraine Currie said: “A passionate advocate for the poor and for the planet, Pope Francis has been a source of tremendous inspiration for Sciaf and our partners across the world.

“We will miss him dearly, but he will live on in our hearts and in our work.”