THE Archdiocese of Cebu mourned the passing of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at his residence in Vatican City. He was 88.
The archdiocese called for prayers and masses for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul.
In a recorded video message, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma expressed deep gratitude for the life and service of Pope Francis.
“Gipakita niya ning gugma, labi na sa mga kabus (He showed his love, especially for the poor),” Palma said.
For his part, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), urged churches to ring their bells and Filipino Catholics to pray for the eternal repose of Pope Francis.
Rome’s bells
After the pontiff’s death announcement, bells tolled in church towers across Rome. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, read the announcement from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Ferrell said.
Pope Francis made a brief appearance on Easter Sunday, April 20, to bless the thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd as he continued his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia.
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, began his papacy on March 13, 2013. He was known for his advocacy for the marginalized and his emphasis on mercy and dialogue.
Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.
“Revolutionary pope”
A Cebuano seminarian said even a fleeting encounter with Pope Francis left a lasting impression on him, viewing the pontiff as a “revolutionary pope.”
Joseph Raymond Arong, a 25-year-old Cebuano theology student in Rome, reflected deeply on the Pope’s influence after their brief encounter. Arong served at the 2024 Easter mass, a privilege granted to his seminary, the Collegio Ecclesiastico Internazionale Sedes Sapientiae.
“The pontificate of Pope Francis was integral in keeping the mission of the Church relevant to an ever changing world, and in safeguarding the holistic practice of Christian Charity, never leaving the poor behind and considering them as the riches of the Church,” Arong told SunStar Cebu via a Messenger.
Arong, originally from Samboan, Cebu, sees the pontiff’s legacy in his unique ability to bridge traditional faith and contemporary society.
He believes Pope Francis understood the Church must engage with modern challenges to keep its message accessible and impactful.
“He was a revolutionary pope for revolutionary times in both faith and morals,” Arong said, highlighting the pontiff’s willingness to address complex ethical and social issues.
Pope Francis’ pontificate offered a renewed sense of purpose and direction amid rapid technological change, shifting cultural norms and increasing secularization, Arong said.
“The pope has always taught to see the face of Christ in the poor and to administer to His Church with zeal and love, to be deeply in love with God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church and her people, especially the poor,” he said.
Pope Francis visited the Philippines from January 15 to 19, 2015. The pastoral and state visit primarily offered support to Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) victims and addressed social and spiritual issues in the country. / CDF, AP