Marcos Jr. mourns Pope Francis, declares national mourning

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed sadness over the passing of Pope Francis, calling him a "man of profound faith and humility."

Marcos Jr. declared a period of national mourning until the Pope's burial, during which Philippine flags will be flown at half-mast.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died at 88 on Monday, April 21, after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest.

Filipinos affectionately referred to him as "Lolo Kiko" and remember his 2015 visit to the Philippines, which was mainly to visit victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao praised Francis' commitment to interreligious peace and standing with Gaza amid Israel's war on Palestine.

The Vatican announced that the funeral service will be held on Saturday in St. Peter's Square.

In his will, Pope Francis asked to be buried in a simple, unadorned tomb inside his beloved Roman basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore.