A true father to us Filipinos mourn Pope Francis
MANILA - Hundreds of Filipinos gathered at a solemn Mass held for Pope Francis on April 22, following his passing that has stirred deep sorrow among Catholics around the world, many of whom saw him as a humble and compassionate leader.
In one of the world’s largest Catholic strongholds, the grief was palpable as worshippers filled churches to honour the pontiff, known affectionately in the Philippines as “Lolo Kiko”, or Grandpa Kiko.
One of the chapels inside the Manila Cathedral displayed a framed photo of the Argentinian Pope surrounded by flowers and candles, as prayers for his eternal repose and solemn hymns sung by the choir echoed through the church.
“Lolo Kiko was a true father to us,” said Cardinal Jose Advincula, the archbishop of Manila, during the morning Mass he led at the cathedral.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on April 21 after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, the Vatican said, ending an often turbulent reign in which he sought to overhaul an ancient and divided institution.
The Philippines, home to more than 80 million Catholics, has long had a special connection with Francis, who visited the country in 2015, drawing a record crowd of up to seven million people at a historic Mass in the capital.
In his homily, the Pope urged Filipinos to shun “social structures which perpetuate poverty, ignorance and corruption”.
Francis journey included a visit to Tacloban, where he met with survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, the deadliest storm in Philippine history.
Powerful force
Cardinal Advincula described the 2015 visit of the Pope as “a moment of grace forever etched in our memory”.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, a Catholic, described Francis as the “best pope in my lifetime” as he expressed deep sorrow over his passing.
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