Russian Orthodox Church patriarch dies

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) - The patriarch of Russia's Orthodox Church, Alexy II, died Friday morning at the age of 79, according to the state-run Russian news agency, RIA Novosti.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called Alexy II "an outstanding religious figure and a true spiritual leader of the country and a great Russian citizen," according to a statement issued by the Kremlin press office.

Medvedev canceled a planned trip to Italy that had been set for Saturday so he could attend the patriarch's funeral, the Kremlin's press office said.