A Dunedin-born photographer has described an "eerie" atmosphere in the Vatican City, just hours after the death of Pope Francis.
The 88-year-old Pontiff died early Monday (local time) after making his first prolonged public appearance since February at Easter Sunday celebrations in the Vatican.
New Zealand photographer Clementine Smart, who is living in Rome on a three-month art gallery internship, said it was a special time to be in the city "amongst people who hold such high regard for Pope Francis".
When Ms Smart heard about the Pope’s death, she took her camera and joined hundreds of Italians and tourists heading toward the Vatican.
"I arrived there four hours after his passing," she said.
"Once inside, the feeling was quite eerie."
A small service was being held inside St Peter's Basilica and a bell was tolling, she said.
Flowers from the Easter Sunday celebrations were being given to visitors who had gathered to pay their respects to the Pope.
Ms Smart said people had been pleased to see Pope Francis in public and had taken his appearance as a sign of improved health following his hospitalisation earlier this year.
"[After his death] I think a lot of people were in shock after just seeing him the day before."
The Vatican said the Pope had died of a stroke and a subsequent, irreversible cardiovascular arrest.
In February, Pope Francis had been admitted to hospital for five weeks with a bout of double pneumonia which had nearly killed him. He was discharged in late March.
His first and only public appearance since then was speaking at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, entering St Peter's Square in a white "popemobile" to greet cheering crowds.
He also held brief meetings with United States Vice-president J.D. Vance and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference president the Most Rev Steve Lowe said while Pope Francis was a giant on the world stage, he often endeared himself to people through one-on-one encounters because, having once been a pastor himself, he was always so responsive to all those he met".
Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, the Most Rev Michael Dooley, said a Mass to pray for the Holy Father would be held at 5.30pm today at St Joseph's Cathedral.
