MANILA — The rector of a college in Rome said on Monday people have started to flock to the Vatican after news broke that Pope Francis has died.

"[Namatay si Pope bandang] 7:35 a.m. dito sa Roma, ibig sabihin mga 1:35 ng hapon dyan sa Pilipinas... Bagong-bagong balita pa lang, nagdadatingan 'yung mga tao pag nag-monitor ka ng Vatican," Fr. Greg Gaston, rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino (PCF), said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo's Headline sa Hapon.

He also said that people in Rome were shocked with the news since he looked "very active" when he roamed around in the Pope mobile on Easter Sunday — the first time since he was hospitalized.

"Kahapon as usual kalma lang siya and then nag-blessing. Maganda kasi umikot lang siya sa Pope mobile first time mula ng mapunta siya sa hospital," Gaston said.

"Pag tiningnan mo sa video parang normal lang si Pope... very active siya," he continued.

When asked on when the papal conclave would commence to elect a new pope, the Filipino priest said it there is no official date yet but may happen in two weeks.

"Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, may 2 weeks na maghihintay ng kaunti, reflection, dasal, and of course itutuloy din 'yung mga ceremonies na nakalista since matagal na 'yan... More or less mga 2 weeks saka pa lang darating 'yung lahat ng Cardinal dito," Gaston said.

A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals whose responsibility is to elect a new pope.

Gaston also said that while there is no official cause of death yet, an official report would be released some time soon.

"I suppose medyo nauunawaan naman ng mga tao na matagal nga siyang naospital [dahil sa] bilateral pneumonia, tsaka 88 years old. I'm sure may medical [report] na lilitaw dyan," he said.

The PCF (translated as Pontifical Filipino College), is a college for diocesan priests from the Philippines studying at pontifical universities in Rome, Italy.