Phl officials mourn ‘Lolo Kiko,’ hail Pope Francis’s legacy

Philippine political leaders joined Catholics worldwide on 21 April 2025 to grieve the death of Pope Francis, praising the 266th pontiff’s humility and unwavering concern for the marginalized. The Argentine-born pope died earlier Monday at age 88 in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta residence, according to church officials.

“It is with a heavy heart that I join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, whom we in Leyte — and across the Philippines — lovingly called ‘Lolo Kiko,’” said House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, recalling the pontiff’s 2015 visit to typhoon‑ravaged Tacloban that “gave us strength” amid tragedy.

Romualdez hailed Francis as “someone who saw beyond titles, beyond barriers,” noting the pope’s decision to stand in the rain with Yolanda survivors as emblematic of his belief that “true power lies in service.” The Speaker added that Filipinos would “carry [Francis’s] light forward.”

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero also honored the pope’s enduring legacy, calling him “a true shepherd of Christ’s flock.”
“I join the Catholic Church and the global community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis,” Escudero said. “His tireless efforts to foster peace and inclusion reshaped the Church’s role in promoting unity across religious and cultural divides.”

He highlighted Francis’s championing of the marginalized, and the inspiration he brought through his message of love and acceptance.
“Pope Francis’ 2015 visit to the Philippines remains etched in our hearts,” Escudero added. “His words of ‘mercy and compassion’ continue to guide the Filipino people in building a society rooted in empathy and understanding. From a grateful nation, paalam at maraming salamat, Pope Francis!”

Former Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri likewise lauded the late pontiff’s “extraordinary compassion and humility.”
“He showed us that being a pope is not about the vestments or the ceremony; it is about being a vehicle for love and mercy,” Zubiri said, recalling a 2024 audience at the Vatican where Francis urged him to “protect the family.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros remembered Pope Francis as “the greatest aspect about our Church today,” and praised his progressive leadership.
“Pope Francis was a real progressive in every sense of the word. He saw to it that the Church was truly a Church of the poor. He even took it further and called on the Church to listen and learn,” she said.

Hontiveros highlighted his bold stances on climate action, women’s roles in the Church, and his deep empathy for marginalized communities.
“Let us keep him in our memory by living the virtues he had always preached: Mercy, compassion, and hope. Let us show mercy for the most vulnerable among us, compassion towards each other, and hope just as the late Pope hoped for peace and justice.”

All four leaders emphasized Francis’s deep bond with the Philippines, the world’s third‑largest Catholic nation after Brazil and Mexico. The pope’s 2015 apostolic journey drew an estimated six million faithful to an outdoor Mass in Manila — a record‑setting gathering that underscored his popularity among Filipino Catholics.