In tribute, Pope Leo said, “Let us thank the Lord for the great gift of Francis’ life to the whole Church and to the whole world.”
“The sleepless nights being ‘enjoyed’ or suffered by the Nigerian government are self-inflicted; they are the outcome of systemic failure,” the cleric said.
Mr Abbas was elected president of the Palestinian Authority in 2005.
A new pope will poll a two-thirds majority to emerge during the election process that will commence on Wednesday.
History will remember Pope Francis for trying to reform the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis has urged people to celebrate Christmas more modestly and donate their savings to Ukraine.
Pope Francis has granted an audience to 112 pilgrims from Nigeria currently in Rome for the 2022 special pilgrimage organised by the NCPC.
North Koreans are generally not permitted to leave and few visitors are welcomed.
