When Pope Francis visited the United States in 2015, cheering crowds of Catholics and non-Catholics turned out in New York, Washington and Philadelphia to greet him, lifting hopes that the U.S. church was about to enter a new,

His critics were fellow clergy as well as elected officials in the ascendant wing of the American Catholic political realm.

The Philippines began a period of national mourning for Pope Francis on Wednesday, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordering flags on all state buildings across the staunchly Roman Catholic country to fly at half-mast to honour the pontiff.

Flags in Minnesota will be at half staff this week to honor and remember Pope Francis. On Monday, Gov. Tim Walz issued the proclamation, ordering all U.S. and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state buildings until the day of Francis' interment.