Catholics around the world are mourning the loss of Pope Francis, who died Monday morning. He was 88.

The Vatican announced Francis died of a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure.

This comes one day after the Holy Father made a surprise appearance during Easter Sunday celebrations in Saint Peter’s Square.

Francis was hospitalized for 38 days earlier this year, following a respiratory issue that developed into double pneumonia.

At Saint Helena’s Church in Parkchester, a picture of the pontiff and a candle now sits next to the altar.

Father Jorge Ramirez, the church’s pastor, said although the pope’s health was declining, the news of his death comes as a shock.

The Bronx priest recalled meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2022.

“You could just feel the sense of humanity that he brought out, the humility, the love, the sense of... ‘I’m your pastor. I’m with you. I’m not someone higher than you, I'm at the same level. I want to take care of you,” Ramirez said. “And he asked us to pray for him.”

News 12 was told Francis will be lying in state starting Wednesday, April 23. The funeral is expected to be next week. The first day of the papal conclave, to elect the next pope, will start around May 5.

A look at the pope's 2015 visit to New York City:

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