From the Vatican to the Philippines, Catholics around the world are spending Easter Monday mourning the death of Pope Francis, BBC reported.
Less than 24 hours before the Vatican's announcement, he had appeared at St Peter's Square to greet worshippers on Easter Sunday - one of the most important dates in the calendar for followers of the faith.
The timing of Pope Francis's death is not lost on Catholics.
"He [God] chose the most beautiful day for the Christian Church - he couldn't have chosen a better day," said Father Sergio Codera, a Salesian priest from Spain.
He continued: "It [Easter] is the most important occasion Christians celebrate, when we celebrate that death does not have the final word.
"And it has been this day that God has chosen for Pope Francis to meet him."
In the Vatican, there is shock from those who saw Francis perform his final public duty.
Church bells have been ringing out across Manila, the capital of the Philippines, where worshippers have gathered in churches to pray and reflect on the Pope's death.
Around 85 percent of the nation's population of 110 million are Roman Catholic, making it the church's stronghold in Asia.
Among them is Jude Aquino, an altar server who reflected on the Pope's influence on young Catholics shortly after his death was confirmed.
Catholics in rebel-held Bukavu, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, have gathered at Notre-Dame de la Paix Cathedral to mourn.
Around half of DR Congo's population is Catholic, the largest such community in Africa.
Francis addressed half a million worshipers in the capital Kinshasa in 2023, becoming the first Pope to visit the conflict-ridden country in more than three decades. During his final address on Easter Sunday, the pope called for an end to violence in the country.
"Pope Francis was a pope who loved our country, the DRC, very much," Sifa Albertina said outside the cathedral.
Seven days of mourning have been declared in Brazil, which is home to the largest Catholic population in the world.
Speaking outside the Church of our Lady of Lourdes in Rio de Janeiro, worshipper Rosane Ribeiro said: "I thought he was a unique and extraordinary person, also during [the pandemic].
"As a priest, he got up every day to pray for the world... and died at a marvellous and beautiful time [Easter], worthy of him."
During his time as Pope, Francis faced criticism at times over his handling of child sex abuse scandals, but was praised by some for speaking with victims and putting in place new rules to hold clergy to account.
Juan Carlos Cruz Chellew, who was abused by a cleric in Chile when he was a boy, said one of the few people in the Church willing to listen to him was Pope Francis.
He said the Pope became "a real father to me" and changed the Church's attitudes to sexual abuse.
In Spain, where Catholics make up more than half of the population, three days of national mourning have been declared.
Nuria Ortega, a civil servant from Madrid, said: "I think he was a person that was accepted by all by Catholic and [non] Catholics and I think he was a person that was open to dialogue."
As the search for a successor to Francis began, student Javier Herratia said the church must become more "humble" and appeal to a young generation.
He continued: "We will have faith in the Holy Spirit and hope that the next Pope is as good as the rest."
bd-pratidin/GR
