BBC World Service, this is News Hour with Owen Bennett Jones.

The bells at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in Rome

have rung out this morning to mark the death of Pope Francis.

After the Vatican announced his death at the age of 88,

people gathered in St Peter's Square to pay their respects.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell said Pope Francis had dedicated his entire life to the service of the Lord and his church.

Carisimmy fraternity and sorelle, with profound dolor. Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father, Francis.

At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the father.

His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his

church. He taught us to live the values of the gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love,

especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus,

we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of the one and true God.

Well, let's hear about initial reactions now to the death of the Pope from our correspondent Rupert

Wingfield Hayes.

He has spent the morning in St Peter Square in Rome. What was it like there? Tell us.

Well, Owen, it's an interesting, it's a bit of a strange mix, actually, to be honest,

because this is Easter week, and it is one of the busiest weeks in the calendar for tourism in Rome.

And Rome is packed with many, many tourists.

And most of the population of Rome has actually left for the weekend. And so they are now coming back.

And we're starting to see people coming into the square, people gathering after they have heard the news.

And I think that's going to accelerate during the afternoon and the evening as people come back into have heard the news. And I think that's going to accelerate during

the afternoon and the evening as people come back into Rome from the weekend. And, you know, the people

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