Pope Francis, the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church who championed the poor and the environment, died on Monday, a day after the holiest day on the Christian calendar. He was 88.

"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell wrote in a posting on X. "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."

Minnesotans mourned the pope's death at an Easter Monday Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

"It's shocking that he went from a public presence to passing," said Dan Doyle, who attended the Mass. "I had non-Catholic friends talking about him. He was a voice and presence that helped all believers."

The Rev. Joe Bambenek encouraged worshipers to be a people of Easter hope despite the news, which many learned about as they awoke Monday.

"We can thank God he was a blessing," Bambenek said about the pope during his homily.

"There are lessons to learn and live out," he said about Francis' life.

A 2023-34 Pew Research Center survey found that 18% of Minnesota adults identify as Catholic. That would translate to about 800,000 adults. That puts Minnesota's Catholic population close in line with the U.S. as a whole, with 19% of U.S. adults identifying as Catholic.

Abigail Fasinski, of St. Paul, occasionally attends services at the Cathedral but wanted to be there for the 7:30 a.m. service Monday after a friend shared the news of Francis' death.

"Very sad," Fasinski said. "He had done a lot for the church. He paved the way and showed a new side of the church, especially with social justice. Everyone in the church will be feeling very deeply today."

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will be leading a special Mass on Monday at the cathedral of St. Paul, at 239 Selby Av. The Mass will be the first of the traditional nine offered for the repose of his soul.

"It is with profound sadness that I learned this morning of the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis," the archbishop said in a statement. "Along with Catholics and men and women of good will throughout the world, I gave thanks to Almighty God for his life and example, and I pray with Easter hope for the repose of his soul."

"I will always be grateful to Pope Francis for assigning me to serve as the archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. I have fond memories this day of all the times that he assured me of his prayers for this Archdiocese," Hebda added.

Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in southeastern Minnesota remembered Francis as "man of simplicity, compassion and deep concern for those on the margins" of society. He asked for prayers for the Cardinals who will gather soon to choose Francis' successor.

Minnesota lawmakers expressed condolences early Monday on social media.

"We will greatly miss the Pope: a voice for the voiceless," wrote Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, in a posting on X. "The one time I saw him pray for and address the gathered at St. Peter's Square, when he finished he did what he always did — he greeted and blessed those with disabilities first."

"Jacquie and I are saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis this morning. May God rest his soul," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) posted on X.

Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) called Pope Francis a "true leader" who dedicated his life to serving others.

"By breaking barriers and challenging norms, he reminded us that our faith should bring us together, not force us apart. May he rest in peace," she said in a social media post.

Francis was hospitalized in February after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. Doctors diagnosed that the pope had bilateral pneumonia, the Vatican said.

Francis spent 38 days in the hospital before he returned to his residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery, the Vatican said.

Francis had been seen in the Vatican during Holy Week activities and appeared during Easter services Sunday in St. Peter's Square, riding in a popemobile as many chanted "viva il papa!" (long live the pope!)

But just a day Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the pope took his final breath on Earth.

"He inspired us all to better embody the teaching of Christ: love, compassion and justice," Gov. Tim Walz said in a social media post. "Gwen and I are joining Catholics and Christians around the world in mourning his loss."

Tim Marx, former CEO of Catholic Charities, said Francis was a breath of fresh air whose death presents an inflection point for the church.

He reflected on hearing the pope speak in 2015, when Sen. Klobuchar invited Marx as a guest for the pope's address to a joint session of Congress in Washington.

"That was personally moving to me to hear his speech, his call to action and to characterize the church as a field hospital for the poor," Marx said in an interview Monday. "It inspired me and so many others across the country and across the globe to continue that effort, knowing that that support was there."

Staff writers Zoë Jackson and Rachel Hutton contributed reporting.