Marcos, Pinoys mourn Francis’ passing

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos joined the world yesterday in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, whom he described as “the best pope in my lifetime.”

“Pope Francis is one of a kind. That’s really sad. I love this pope. The best pope in my lifetime as far as I’m concerned,” Marcos said.

In a separate statement, Marcos said the Philippines is one with the Catholic community worldwide in grieving the loss of Francis.

“A man of profound faith and humility, Pope Francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten,” Marcos said.

“By example, Pope Francis taught us that to be a good Christian is to extend kindness and care to one another. His humility brought many back to the fold of the Church,” the President said.

“As we mourn his passing, we honor a life that brought hope and compassion to so many, and inspired us to love one another as Christ loved us. It is a profoundly sad day,” the Chief Executive said.

On Easter Sunday, Francis appeared before the crowd at St. Peter’s Square with a message of “Happy Easter.”

According to Vatican News, Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. (Vatican time) on Monday. He was 88.

Francis made a historic visit to the Philippines in 2015, mainly to visit the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. He was affectionately known among Filipinos as “Lolo Kiko.”

Archbishop of Manila Jose Cardinal Advincula remembered Pope Francis as a true father with genuine love for the Philippines.

“Throughout his pontificate, our Lolo Kiko was a true father to us and has continued to show his love for the Philippines – not only through words, but through actions,” said Advincula.

“As we reflect on the journey of Pope Francis’ pontificate, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the gift of his person, a precious gift of God to the Church and to the world – and in a very special way to us as a Filipino people,” he said.

“From the very beginning of his Petrine ministry in 2013, the Holy Father has reminded us that the Church must be close to the poor, merciful to all and a welcoming home for the forgotten. These words resonate in our hearts, for they speak so deeply to the soul of the Filipino faithful.”

“Under the rain in Tacloban, standing with the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, Pope Francis showed us what it means to suffer with others and find hope in the midst of pain. In Luneta, as he celebrated the Holy Eucharist with millions, he embraced our joy, our faith and our longing for a Church that walks with its people,” he said, recalling Francis’ papal and state visits to the country in 2015. It was Pope Francis who made him a cardinal and appointed him Archbishop of Manila in 2021.

Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos’ said that their diocese would offer prayers and masses for Pope Francis.

“May his teachings and shepherding examples lead us to give our best to God and to love our Church more. Let us live what our beloved Holy Father has shown and shared to us. There in heaven he will continue to pray for us,” Santos said.

Ring church bells for Pope Francis

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David called for the ringing of church bells and asked the faithful to pray for the eternal repose of Pope Francis.

David said he sent this message to the CBCP Group Chat minutes after learning of Francis’ death yesterday.

In his “Message of Sorrow and Hope,” Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas recalled the pope’s message of support when he criticized extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration.

“When I was mocked and ridiculed and threatened by government authorities in my stand against the extrajudicial killings, he assured me and encouraged me personally in Rome to carry on my task of guiding the flock through my pastoral letters. He knew his bishops. He knew our tears. He knew us and he loved us. He taught us not to fear,” Villegas said.

“He was the gift of the Good Shepherd to the Church. He served us with humility. He showed us God’s mercy. He linked us with bridges of compassion with fellow believers, with non-believers. He bravely disturbed us in our complacency and prejudices. He taught us to care for God’s creation. He taught us Jesus. Pope Francis was our Jesus for our age,” he added.

Villegas said he could still remember Francis’ papal visit to the Philippines in 2015. “In sunshine or under the rain, he made us feel the love of God. The rains and our tears of joy were mixed running down our cheeks. We knew that in him, Jesus was in our midst,” he said.

“The Archdiocese invites all the lay faithful, clergy and religious to offer prayers and masses for the eternal repose of his soul. May the Lord grant him the reward of his faithful service and welcome him into eternal peace,” the Archdiocese of Cebu said in a Facebook post.

“Even with the bad weather, our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, didn’t let anything stop him from being with us –especially those who had endured the heartbreak and devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Leyte. He gave so much of himself, braving the storm just to be here and bring comfort–just as Christ would have done,” the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral said in a statement.

The University of Santo Tomas, the country’s pontifical school visited by Francis in 2015, also expressed sadness for the death of Francis.

“In mercy and compassion, he led the church with a heart like Christ’s. We mourn the passing of Pope Francis, whose life was a testament to love, humility and grace. We pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Pope Francis, our Lolo Kiko. He led the Church with a heart like that of Christ,” the UST said in a statement.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said Francis was more than a pope to Filipinos. “He was a father, a friend, a guiding light in times of darkness. I will never forget how he came to Tacloban in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, when our people were suffering beyond words,” he said.

“The world has lost a great man. But the kindness, the wisdom and the deep compassion he shared with us will never fade. Lolo Kiko may have left this earth, but his spirit will live on in every heart he touched,” Romualdez said.

Senate President Francis Escudero recalled how the late pope’s “tireless efforts to foster peace and inclusion reshaped the Church’s role in promoting unity across religious and cultural divides.”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she best remembers Francis for his “clarion call to action on the climate crisis, his welcoming of women into leadership positions in the Church and his making God’s love felt by marginalized communities across the world, especially in areas wracked by violence and conflict.”

“My heart is heavy with grief for our beloved Lolo Kiko, our Pope Francis, whose papacy was marked by his extraordinary compassion and humility,” former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs joined the Filipino people and Catholics around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. –  Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla, Cesar Ramirez, Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago