The times Pope Francis, or 'Lolo Kiko,' showed his love for Filipinos
Filipinos mourn the loss of Pope Francis, affectionately referred to as "Lolo Kiko," who passed away at the age of 88.
"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel.
His death came a day after he made his first prolonged public appearance since being discharged on March 23 from a 38-day hospital stay.
Francis had been in a grueling battle with double pneumonia since February and had been hospitalized for almost 40 days. Despite his health troubles, Francis remained a very active pontiff up until the end, making a brief appearance at St. Peter's Square to mark Easter Sunday.
Because of his refreshing and compassionate approach to leadership as well as his profound sense of humility, compassion, and dedication to social justice, Francis has had a special place in the hearts of many Filipinos since his early days as the head of the Catholic Church.
Let's look back at his heartwarming relationship with Filipinos:
Visiting the Philippines
Francis cemented his bond with the Philippines when he made his pastoral and state visit to the country from Jan. 15 to 19, 2015, during the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III.
Filipinos were undeniably overjoyed, as he was only the third pontiff to visit the Philippines after Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1981 and 1995. In his visit, Francis made rounds in Manila, Tacloban, and Leyte to lift up those who had suffered from the wrath of Super Typhoons Yolanda and Ruby.
In one instance, Francis took time from his itinerary to meet former street children of Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation, Inc., where he was accompanied by then-Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle.
One of the youth, 15-year-old Gardi Bantiling, had a chance to share a warm embrace with Francis, per ANC.
"Biglang bumilis 'yung tibok ng puso ko doon. Naging sobrang sobrang saya ko po. Pakiramdam ko nung kaharap ko po siya, parang si Hesu Kristo po 'yung kaharap ko," he told the news outlet.
When he was at the University of Santo Tomas, the pope took time to pray for the 27-year-old woman who died at the Tacloban airport after scaffolding of a speaker fell on her.
"I would like all of you, young people like her, to offer a moment in silence with me... then we pray to our Lady in heaven," the pontiff said.
A whopping 6 to 7 million Filipinos attended Francis' final Papal Mass at Luneta, surpassing the crowd at World Youth Day 1995 in the same venue and making it the largest papal crowd in history.
In an interview with the media, Francis said that he was "moved" by the gestures Filipinos made during his visit.
"They are good gestures, gestures that are felt, gestures that come from the heart. Some almost make one weep. That’s where everything is: faith, love, family, hopes, the future. That gesture of the fathers who lifted their children up for the Pope to bless them. The gesture of a father... There were many. They lifted their children up when we passed by on the road," he said.
He was also touched by how many braved the bad weather just to listen to his messages.
"Even in the rain, one of the masters of ceremonies told me that he was edified because those who were serving in Tacloban, in the rain, they were never without a smile. It’s the joy, unfeigned joy. It wasn’t a painted-on smile: no. It was a smile that just came out, and behind that smile there is a normal life," he said.
Being called 'Lolo Kiko'
It was during his visit that Filipinos began to refer to him as "Lolo Kiko," with "Kiko" being a nickname for Filipinos named Francisco.
The name stuck with him even after he returned to Rome.
"When I was in the Philippines, the Filipino people greeted me saying 'Lolo Kiko'— meaning Grandpa Francis—'Lolo Kiko', they said!" he shared to the general audience in St. Peter’s Square nearly two months after he visited the Philippines.
Celebrating 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines
Francis took the time to commemorate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.
During Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, he praised Filipinos for maintaining strong faith even after centuries since the first Christian message arrived in the country.
"We see it in your eyes, on your faces, in your songs and in your prayers. In the joy with which you bring your faith to other lands. I have often said that here in Rome, Filipino women are 'smugglers' of faith! Because wherever they go to work, they sow the faith," Francis said.
"It is part of your genes, a blessed 'infectiousness' that I urge you to preserve. Keep bringing the faith, the good news you received five hundred years ago, to others. I want to thank you, then, for the joy you bring to the whole world and to our Christian communities," he added.
Welcoming Filipinos in the Vatican
Even after years have passed, Francis continued to cherish his memories with Filipinos, as shown in his December 16, 2024 address to the Filipino community in Spain.
Expressing his joy at their visit to the Vatican, he complimented the word "tahanan," which they chosen as the title of their mission in Madrid.
"A beautiful word that we can translate as 'home.' And it is true, everywhere we go, the Church is always a home for us, a warm and welcoming home, and today the house of Peter is also like a home for you. Welcome!" Francis said.
He acknowledged the challenges migrants face, likening them to "thorns," and emphasized the Church's mission to offer solace and support. Francis also made mention of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, and praised him for being an embodiment of cultural integration and steadfast faith.
He ended his message by reflecting once more about his visit to the Philippines.
"The Filipinos are men of faith, women of faith. Some of you work here in the Vatican and it is fantastic, the faith they have and the witness they give is fantastic. Continue to bear witness in this society that has become too rich, too competent, too self-sufficient. Thank you for what you do," Francis said.
Seeking to reconnect with the Philippines
Francis previously expressed his desire to reconnect with the country as he sent heartfelt greetings to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Filipino nation through Vatican Secretary for Relations and States and International Organizations Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
"The Holy Father is sending you his greetings, Your Excellency. As most attached to the Filipino people, to the Church in the Philippines," Gallagher told Marcos.
"I’m delighted it’s been possible to make this visit. It’s long overdue, in fact. But hopefully contacts will be renewed and continued. It’s a very, very thriving relationship, I think," he added.
Marcos subsequently thanked Gallagher for visiting the Philippines.
After Francis' death, Marcos expressed deep sorrow over his passing, saying, "Ibang klase si Pope Francis. That’s really sad. I love this Pope. The best Pope in my lifetime as far as I’m concerned."
