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.

Francis advocated for the powerless, for those who have so little and yet are villainized by people in positions of authority.'