In a small church tucked into a side street in northern China's Hebei province, a group of around 10 people gathered for their weekly meeting, the day after Pope Francis died aged 88. Others who gathered said they were "shocked" to hear of his death because it "seemed so sudden" -- especially after he had made an appearance at the Vatican the previous day,

Tens of thousands of mourners filtered into St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Wednesday to pay their final respects to Pope Francis.

Throngs of Catholics made their way slowly to the 16th century basilica's main altar, where Francis' simple open wooden casket was perched.