By Brian Campued
“The best Pope in my lifetime.”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday paid tribute to the late Pope Francis as he led the nation in mourning the death of the pontiff.
In a statement posted on social media, the President joined the Catholic community in grieving the loss of the Pope—which he called “a man of profound faith and humility.”
“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,” Marcos said.
First Lady Liza Marcos, in a separate post, recalled her last meeting with Pope Francis—delivering a heartfelt message to the late pontiff, whom she described as a “saint on Earth.”
“To have met Pope Francis was a blessing I will always carry in my heart. His words were soft, but his message was mighty: mercy, humility, and love above all,” the First Lady said.
The first Jesuit and the first Pope from the Americas, Pope Francis passed away at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City on Easter Monday. He was 88.
Known in the Philippines as “Lolo Kiko,” Pope Francis visited the country in 2015 where he led a Mass at the Manila Cathedral, the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, as well as in Tacloban City, which was still reeling from the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda two years prior.
-iro
