ALBAWABA - A deep sense of sadness descended on the town of İznik town in Turkey over the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 21.
It is worth noting that the pope was expected to visit the town in the northwestern Turkish province of Bursa on May 21, however, he died before he could head to Turkey.
In a touching scene, shopkeepers in Iznik distributed alms of food and sweets to passersby in memory of the late Pope Francis. According to sources, this is a well-known Turkish tradition honoring the dead.
The streets of the town, which hold a prominent place in Christian history, were transformed into a place of public mourning, amid a state of shock among residents.
The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Pope Francis' funeral will take place next Saturday, on April 26, at 10.00 a.m. (0800 GMT) at St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Francis passed away on Monday, on the second day of easter, due to a stroke, the Vatican announced hours after the death on April 21. The Vatican has not revealed any details regarding the date for the funeral.
French President Emmanuel Macron will attend Pope Francis's funeral, AFP reported on Tuesday. "We will attend the pope's funeral as we should," Macron told reporters.
