Dioceses in the Philippines remembered Pope Francis as a merciful, compassionate, and humble shepherd after he passed away on Monday at 88.
In a statement, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas described the Pope as the “Jesus of our age.”
“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 and 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,” Villegas said.
The Lingayen-Dagupan prelate also honored Pope Francis, who gave him courage during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
“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.
In a social media post, the Archdiocese of Cebu called on Catholics to offer prayers and Masses for the Pope.
“Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope, became a voice for the marginalized and a shepherd who consistently emphasized mercy, dialogue, and synodality in the life of the Church,” the Cebu archdiocese said.
Echoing Pope Francis’ message during the 500 years of Christianity in the country, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula urged Filipino Catholics to continue being “smugglers of the faith.”
“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,” Advicula said.
“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,” he added.
For his part, Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, honored Pope Francis through a social media post.
Meanwhile, the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP) described Pope Francis as a “model of pastoral closeness.”
“[He reminded] us through word and witness to go out to the margins, to build bridges not walls, and to live our vocations with joy, mercy, and courage,” the CMSP said in a social media post.
“His life was a parable of hope—quiet yet bold, grounded yet visionary,” it added.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus also hailed Pope Francis, a fellow Jesuit.
“The first Jesuit pope, a man of humility, courage, and compassion, he brought the light of the Gospel to the margins of the world and the heart of the Church. His leadership reminded us that mercy is the name of God, and that joy is at the core of the Christian life,” the congregation said in a statement.
“We entrust him to the loving embrace of the Father, confident that his life of service to the Church and humanity will bear fruit for generations to come.”
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber or the caretaker of the Papal household, announced Pope Francis’ passing on the Vatican’s TV channel.
“At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was devoted to service to the Lord and His Church,” he said
Earlier this year, Pope Francis spent several weeks at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for double pneumonia.
Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was elected as successor to the late Pope Benedict XVI in 2013.
In 2015, Pope Francis visited the Philippines for his apostolic visit. –NB/BAP, GMA Integrated News
