“I did set my alarm clock an hour earlier than I needed just so I could hate her for an hour longer." - death and funeral of Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was a pioneer, willingly or unwillingly, for the role of women in politics. It is hard to imagine a part of our current history that has not been affected by measures she put forward in the UK at the end of the 20th Century.

His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of Baroness Margaret Thatcher. He recalls with appreciation the Christian values which underpinned her commitment to public service and to the promotion of freedom among the family of nations.

[She was] a great leader, a great woman of principles and determination. She inspired a generation of political leaders.