Hundreds of Filipinos gathered at a solemn mass held for Pope Francis, 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 Argentine 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 yesterday’s morning mass he led at the cathedral.
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.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, a Catholic, described Francis as the “best pope in my lifetime” as he expressed deep sorrow over his passing.
The Catholic Church in the Philippines has been a powerful force in society, helping to oust two leaders, most notably the father and namesake of the current president, and speaking out against injustices and human rights abuses, including a spree of killings in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial “war on drugs”.
As the Church prepares for a new conclave, attention has turned to what could be a historic shift – one of the possible candidates to succeed Francis is Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
Tagle, 67 is often called the “Asian Francis” because of his similar commitment to social justice and if elected he would be the first pontiff from Asia, where only the Philippines and Timor-Leste have majority Catholic populations. — Reuters
