by Edwin Quinabo
Solemnity and concern have gripped some 1.4 billion Catholics over Pope Francis since the pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14, where he has been receiving treatment for double pneumonia and slipping in and out of critical care.
Increasingly positive medical updates into his hospitalization have been reported by the Vatican with the latest report saying Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger. But the 88-year-old spiritual leader of the Catholic Church remains in guarded condition spending unceremoniously his 12th anniversary to the papacy in the hospital.
Millions of Filipinos around the globe have joined the Catholic faithful participating in prayer vigils, rosaries and special masses of intention for the Holy Father’s recovery. About 81% (93,636,000) of 115.6 million Filipinos in the Philippines, some 2.6 million of 4 million Filipino Americans, and millions of Filipinos globally outside of the Philippines identify as Roman Catholic.
“Let us accompany Pope Francis with our loving prayers and entrust him to the Lord’s healing as well as his doctors, nurses, and medical professionals,” said Cardinal Jose Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, who led a prayer service for Pope Francis at the Manila Cathedral on Feb. 21. Advincula and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines have appealed to parishes and communities to organize prayers for the pope.
Meanwhile in Rome, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presided over mass at the Pontificio Collegio Filipino chapel and also led a Holy Rosary from St. Peter’s Square on Feb. 25, the second night of the “Rosary for Pope’s Health,” ongoing series of daily prayer. In attendance among thousands that evening was Fr. Dacalos, a Filipino priest based in Rome, who said, “even during his sickness, the Pope continues to strengthen his brothers and sisters especially in being one with us in prayer.”
Pope Francis and the Filipino community
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis is the first pope from the Americas, first from the Western Hemisphere. He is the first “Pope Francis,” first Jesuit, first pope in modern history to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guest house instead of the more grandeur papal apartments.
Francis was the first Pope to hold a special mass for the Filipino community in 2019. That same year, he’s allowed the first Simbang Gabi mass (Filipino Catholic tradition during the Christmas season) in St. Peter Basilica in which he presided over. In 2021, Pope Francis celebrated in the Vatican the 500th Anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.
In 2015 he made history during his visit to the Philippines where between 6-7 million attended an open-air mass at Luneta Park in Manila, according to the Philippine government. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said, “We are not able to count all these people, obviously, or to verify this, but in any case, we have seen so many people that we believe that it is possible. If this is true, and we think it is, this is the largest event in the history of the popes.” He noted Pope John Paul drew some five million to the same area in 1995.
In his address at the event, Francis said of the Filipino people, “You are generous. You are bountiful. You know how to celebrate the feast of faith. Don’t lose that even in the midst of difficulties. And I am a witness that you know how to transmit the faith, and you do it well, be it in your own country or abroad. Thank you for the profound sense of family, of community, of fraternity, which keeps you united, which keeps you firm in faith, joyful in hope, and prompt in charity.” He added, “All of you, pilgrim people of God in the Philippines, pastors and faithful, are also people who know how to accompany Jesus, the Nazarene, along the way of the Cross.”
While in the Philippines that same trip, during the Papal Mass in Tacloban City, tragedy struck when a 27-year-old volunteer Kristel Mae was crushed to death by a large speaker stack while waiting for the papal convoy to pass. Paul Padasas, father of Kristel, who met with Francis after the death of his daughter, said he still remembers how he was consoled by His Holiness. While Pope Francis remains in the hospital, Padasas said, “we should be his strength now.” He said praying for Francis’ health is nothing compared to how he has been good. “Even when he left the Philippines, I have always felt his consoling presence.”
On December 17, 2024, Pope Francis made remarks addressing the Filipino migrant community in Spain to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Filipino parish in Barcelona, the parish of the Immaculate Conception and St. Lorenzo Ruiz, a Filipino martyred in 1637.
St. Ruiz was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard and sought asylum boarding a ship with other priests headed to Japan for evangelization. There, he was tortured (hung upside down over a pit) and bled to death for his spreading the Gospel of Christ. The Pope drew parallels between Ruiz’s story and the plight of modern migrants, urging Filipinos to follow the saint’s example of a life dedicated to serving God through others.
Filipino community on Pope Francis
Thousands of miles away in Hawaii, Marylou Cadiz, a devout Roman Catholic who attends Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ewa Beach said she’s been praying for the pope. “In my nightly rosary prayers, I’ve been including Pope Francis who I admire and respect as our Vicar of Christ, a man of great humility and strength. His selection of the name Pope Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, fits him well. The beloved saint was also known for great humility and strength.”
She added, “I talk to my sister in Newport Beach, CA who is also praying for our pope. We were raised by our parents to respect the authority of the papal office because they would tell us that the pope is chosen by cardinals inspired the Holy Spirit to guide the Church. And so far, we’ve had over 2,000 years of popes in apostolic succession going back to Jesus Christ, who founded the Catholic Church.”
Socorro Maniquis Painter, Livermore, California, a Roman Catholic, said “Pope Francis is what I would call a true leader, one who is up to date on what’s happening outside the Vatican and knows how to use his pulpit to help the poor, the disenfranchised, and the oppressed.”
Rebecca Fuller, Waimanalo, Hawaii, President of the Filipino Catholic Ministry at St. George Parish in Waimanalo, said what she likes most about Pope Francis’ character is “his kindness and concerns for the poor and the needy around the world especially the children. Pope Francis models his vision and leads by example.”
Teresita Bernales, Kailua, Hawaii, Roman Catholic, said “Pope Francis’ leadership outside the Church exemplifies his commitment to being a ‘shepherd of all,’ addressing humanity’s shared challenges with compassion and conviction. His actions resonate with believers and non-believers alike, reinforcing his role as a global moral leader on critical issues such as climate change, social justice, and human rights. His active engagement in non-religious arenas reflects his vision of a Church that is outward-looking and deeply involved in addressing global challenges.”
Teresita Villamoran, Canada, Roman Catholic, said, “Pope Francis’ compassion and openness to dialogue are remarkable. He listens to diverse perspectives, engages with people of all faiths and backgrounds, and shows a genuine concern for the suffering and excluded. His courage in addressing controversial issues, such as economic inequality and climate change, also demonstrates his willingness to challenge powerful systems for the sake of justice. These qualities make him a relatable and inspiring leader, both within and outside the Church.”
Pope for the 21st century
As religious leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has been a spiritual and moral bedrock for Catholics. He is also the sovereign head of the Vatican City State. In that capacity, he assumed the role as other leaders of nations using political gravitas to bend society in areas like global warming, poverty reduction, refugee-migrant and women’s rights. He’s been a frequent critic of unfettered capitalism which he believes is responsible for increased global income inequality. He’s warned against overemphasized consumerism in prioritizing life values. He’s advocated for responsibility in AI and technology.
As popes before him, Francis regularly hosts at the Vatican other heads of state and monarchs. In turn, he’s made 47 foreign trips to more than 65 countries, was the first pope to address the U.S. Congress, attend the G20 and G7 Economic Summits, talked before the United Nations General Assembly.
Fuller said, “the pope’s presence in the non-religious arenas shows that he doesn’t recognize a distinction, and he values everyone. And this I think is the reason why he is a world leader and treated with respect by political world leaders.”
Bernales also recognizes that Pope Francis’ leadership has earned him respect from political figures worldwide. “For instance, U.S. President Joe Biden praised the pope’s tireless advocacy for the vulnerable and his efforts to address global crises. He is a unifying figure in a fragmented world,” she said.
Just before leaving office, Biden awarded Pope Francis the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. AP reported on the 12th anniversary of Francis, March 13, the pope donated that medal to Buenos Aires Cathedral, which will be displayed in the Cathedral’s Museum. Francis, then Bergoglio, was archbishop of Buenos Aires who had the nickname “Slum Bishop” because he would spend a lot of his time visiting slums in the metropolis.
“The Holy See [governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City State] maintains a diplomatic corps to many countries and international organizations,” Bernales points out. “I have been privileged to get to know the past Vatican Apostolic Nuncio to the UN, Archbishop Bernardito Auza who is a Filipino from Bohol and a UST graduate. He arranged all the preparations for the coming of Pope Francis to NYC and engagement at the UN,” she said.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic before a vaccination was created, Pope Francis performed an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi (“To the City and to the World”) blessing that remains indelible in the minds of Catholics. It was the Pope praying before an empty St. Peter’s Square due to the lockdowns in the backdrop of night and rain. The event was livestreamed as the pope served as an inspiration of hope and light juxtapositioned to one of the darkest times of the 21st century.
“It was a scary time. I watched the livestream on Vatican News, and it gave me comfort. The Urbi et Orbi pandemic blessing is still available for people to watch on YouTube,” Cadiz said.
A few highlights of Pope Francis’ leadership
1. Held a summit to address clerical sexual abuse, opened the Vatican archives to lay courts, made it compulsory to report suspicions of abuse or any attempts to cover it up.
2. Clamped down on corruption and stepped-up scrutiny of investments and the Vatican Bank, created a Special Secretariat for the Economy.
3. Opened the Synod (Catholic discussion body) by involving lay members including women.
4. Issued Evangelo gaidum (“The Joy of the Gospel”), an apostolic exhortation in which he denounced economic inequality, called for spiritual renewal within the church and greater attention to the plight of the poor.
5. Issued Laudato si (“Praise Be to You”), his second encyclical, which proclaimed that environmental degradation is a moral issue and included the concept of “integral ecology.” Francis connected sinful actions against the natural world with the economic exploitation of impoverished human beings. The document also endorsed the rights of indigenous peoples.
Villamoran said, “It serves as a moral imperative, reminding individuals, governments, and corporations that protecting the Earth is not just a scientific necessity but a deeply ethical duty.”
6. Repeatedly advocated for peace between Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine, as well as in other war-torn nations like the civil war in Sudan.
7. Issued Amoris Laetitia “Joy of Love” a wide-ranging pronouncement on family issues, urging priests and bishops to take a more welcoming, and less judgmental attitude toward homosexuals, single parents, and the divorced who remarried but who had not obtained an annulment, indicating that in the latter case that such Catholics might be permitted to receive Holy Communion through the guidance of a priest.
Bernales said, “Pope Francis’s Amoris Laetitia represents a significant departure from previous Catholic teachings on family issues, particularly in its tone, approach, and emphasis on pastoral care. Some key differences between Amoris Laetitia and earlier teachings (such as those found in Pope John Paul II’s Familiaris Consortio, 1981) include: A) Focus on Reality Over Ideals — Familiaris Consortio emphasized the “ideal family,” presenting theological and moral principles about what the family should be. In contrast, Amoris Laetitia acknowledges the ‘rich and complex reality’ of family life, including non-traditional families. Pope Francis seeks to engage with these realities positively rather than focusing solely on ideals. B) Emphasis on Mercy and Discernment — Pope Francis adopts a more merciful and flexible approach to individuals in irregular situations. He emphasizes understanding, accompaniment, and respect for individual struggles.”
8. Made a “penitential pilgrimage” to Canada and met with survivors of the country’s religious-run residential schools, where Indigenous children faced physical and sexual abuse. In his historic apology, Francis said to survivors, “I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples,” and he described the schools as “a disastrous error, incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Incremental revolutionary
While both conservative-leaning Catholics say Pope Francis has gone too far in some of areas and liberal-learning Catholics criticize the Pope for not moving the Church to keep step with modern times, a majority of Catholics remain steadfast in their respect for the office of the papacy.
Most papal experts would agree that Pope Francis is more like an incremental revolutionary. He is conservative in that he hasn’t changed from the Church’s positions on issues like his rejection of abortion. He leans liberal in that he has brought in more women into high positions in the Church. This year he appointed Sister Simona Brambilla, an Italian nun, as prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. This marked the first time in history that a woman was selected to lead a department of the Roman Curia. At the same time, Francis rejected calls for women to become priests. The pope has also said same-sex couples can be blessed, but not their union, and maintains that the Church only recognizes marriage for a man and woman. Still, the pope has encouraged world governments to legalize “civil” unions.
Cadiz said, “the beauty of the Catholic Church is that we have differences among ourselves, but we are still united, which has been key to the Church’s thousands of years of longevity. I don’t believe there is any church that can say they have as long of a continuous one-line of leaders, not even monarchies, empires and great civilizations throughout history have had such a long continuous succession.”
Could the next pope be Filipino?
Since Francis’s lengthy stay in the hospital, the world press has been speculating about his possible successor. A frequent name that comes up among those considered papabile (Italian term, “worthy to be pope”) is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, former Archbishop of Manila, currently Pro-Prefect for the Section of First Evangelization for the Dicastery for Evangelization. The head of this Dicastery — one of the largest and most important of the Roman Curia — is often considered to be the third highest rank of the Catholic Church, behind the Pope and Secretary of State. Tagle is a global figure in the Catholic Church praised for his gift of evangelization. He is often referred to as the “Asian Pope Francis” because of his similar stance on social justice, advocacy of the poor and climate change.
“As a practicing Filipino Catholic, I would very much like for Cardinal Tagle to be elected as our next Pope. For Filipino Catholics, Cardinal Tagle represents hope, inclusivity, and a bridge between tradition and modernity—qualities that make him an inspiring choice. The election of a Filipino pope would likely have significant impacts on the lives of Filipinos. It will be a historic moment of pride and unity, fostering a sense of national identity and solidarity. It would strengthen the Catholic faith in the Philippines. There will be renewed focus on social justice such as poverty, inequality and environmental concerns in the Philippines,” Bernales said.
Painter said, “Cardinal Tagle will be a great successor to Pope Francis. He will continue the work that Pope Francis started especially caring for the poor and the oppressed.”
“Tagle is a holy man filled with joy. You see that joy overflowing in his speeches at Catholic events and homilies. His election would be historic, not just for Filipinos, but the Catholic world and non-Catholic world,” Cadiz affirmed.
Fuller said, “Cardinal Tagle’s service as the third highest ranking in the Catholic Church, is already a great honor to our home country, the Philippines. My thoughts about the next Pope? I’ll just let the hand of the Lord and the Holy Spirit move. For now, let us continue to pray for the healing and strength of Pope Francis.”
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