The world is mourning the death of Pope Francis, reflecting on his legacy and global impact. From Wall Street to local churches across Tampa Bay, people are honoring the life of a spiritual leader many saw as deeply compassionate and connected to everyday people. The New York Stock Exchange observed a moment of silence and rang a bell in his honor. Across the Atlantic, the Vatican lowered its flags to half-staff while crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray the Rosary for the late pontiff. Church bells rang out 88 times — once for each year of his life. Locally, churches throughout the Tampa Bay area are celebrating Pope Francis's life and legacy with special services and remembrances. Some parishioners recalled Pope Francis' visit to the Americas in September 2015, including the United States. Though he didn't stop in Florida, his presence left a strong impression. "His heart was there, and Americans are not largely Catholic, but when he came to New York, hundreds if not thousands of people turned up to see this Pope," Jaenette LaVoy, a member of Incarnation Catholic Church in Sarasota, said. Welcomed to Washington, D.C., by then-President Barack Obama and his family, Pope Francis focused on engaging with the people. He celebrated mass and greeted crowds in cities like New York and Philadelphia. He also visited key charities, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, met with civil rights leaders such as Jesse Jackson and Aretha Franklin, and famously kissed babies along his route. His visit highlighted issues he held close to his heart — ones that also resonated deeply with Americans. He spoke out on human rights, the struggles of marginalized communities, and the challenges faced by immigrants. "As a son of an immigrant family, I am happy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families," Pope Francis said during that visit. As the Catholic Church prepares to lay the pope to rest and make way for the selection of a new pope, millions continue to remember Pope Francis not just as a religious leader, but as a person who was filled with humility, conviction and a deep love for humanity. "He's somebody that cared so much about the environment, about diversity, about the people — and he was just so compassionate," Andrew Haddad, a member of St. Martha's Catholic Church, said.