Cardinal David calls for church bells to be rung for Pope Francis

Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, on Monday called on churches across the country to ring its bells for Pope Francis, who died earlier today at 88.

“Please ring the bells of our churches and call our people to prayer for the eternal repose of the Holy Father Pope Francis,” David said in a social media post of the Diocese of Kalookan.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber or the caretaker of the Papal household, announced Pope Francis’ passing on the Vatican's TV channel.

"At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father," he said.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis spent several weeks at Rome's Gemelli Hospital for double pneumonia. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News