Solid foundation laid for Pope Francis' successor, says local Catholic priest

JOHANNESBURG - Some in the Catholic community have started to weigh in on the succession plan for the church following the death of Pope Francis on Monday.

The 88-year-old pope had been in ill health since February.

The pontiff had spent 38 days in hospital before returning to his Vatican residence, where he died.

The names of the cardinals who might succeed Pope Francis have been touted in international media, as the church begins preparations for the religious leader's burial.

A priest at the Cathedral of Christ in Johannesburg, Father Lawrance Mduduzi Ndlovu, said that a solid foundation had been laid for whoever succeeded the pope.

"He's the first pope to speak so candidly and warmly about the members of the LGBTQI+. The famous phrase, 'Who am I to judge? If a person seeks God with an ardent heart, who am I to judge?' He's also done seminal work in advancing the human cause and that has been very important for him."