We are in great mourning with the rest of world for death of Pope Francis - Catholic Church of Latvia

RIGA - The Catholic Church of Latvia is in great mourning together with the rest of the world for the death of Pope Francis, and we pray for his soul and eternal peace, Ilmars Tolstovs, representative of the Roman Catholic Church of Latvia delegated by Archbishop Metropolitan Zbigņevs Stankevics, told LETA.

"We pray for the soul of Pope Francis, we pray that God may welcome him into the kingdom of heaven and grant him eternal peace," Tolstovs said.

The Catholic Church in Latvia is also with the College of Cardinals at this painful moment, he stressed.

"We pray for the cardinals, that God may give them his blessing for the choice of the new Pope," Tolstovs said.

He also explained that the Latvian Catholic Church is only following what is happening in Rome. Latvia does not have a cardinal, so no cardinal will go to the papal election.

Both clergy and faithful will go to the funeral, he said.

The AFP news agency reports that Pope Francis died on Monday aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement.

"Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel.

"This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.

"His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church."

Francis's death came just a day after he delighted the crowds of worshippers at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance on the balcony at Saint Peter's Basilica despite still convalescing after a severe illness.

Francis had come close to dying twice earlier this year while suffering from pneumonia.

He spent 38 days in hospital before he was released on March 23.

On Sunday he wished the crowds on Saint Peter's Square a "Happy Easter" as he waved and in his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") benediction he called for freedom of thought and tolerance.