By bno - Surabaya Office Singapore’s top leaders have paid heartfelt tributes to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, following a brief period of illness, The Straits Times reported.

The turnout exceeded the capacity at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, and many mourners stood outside in the afternoon heat to watch a livestream of the Mass.

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,