Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) was born in 1936 in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, to immigrant parents who fled Italy’s fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini.
The Filipino Katoliko in the Philippines joins our brethren in the Roman Catholic Church as they mourn the passing of the Church’s 266th Supreme Pontiff – His Holiness Pope Francis.
Up to his last days on Earth, he showed his love and compassion to the people suffering from war, hunger, and dispossession, particularly those brothers and sisters in Gaza. What a loving, kind of a leader.
He was known for his stands for peace, dialogue, human rights and dignity of all peoples. Particularly, he called for dialogue to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict because, for him, war deprives people of their Rights. Further he emphasized that respect and recognition of Human Rights to life and peace are prerequisites of all other rights.
Pope Francis, by words and deeds, opened the Roman Catholic Church to all faiths and has called on all nations and tribes to take care of the only home (Earth) that God has given to His children. In his speech to the believers in Manila and the world, he said:
“As Stewards of God’s Creation, we are called to make the earth a beautiful garden for the human family. When we destroy our forests, ravage our soil, and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling.” (January 18, 2015)
Pope Francis, you may be gone from the earth, but your teachings live in us and will be treasured forever.
As Independent Philippine Catholics, the Filipino Katoliko is with the whole Roman Catholic community in celebrating the life of Pope Francis.
Let us pray,
Almighty Father, we pray for the eternal rest of His Holiness Pope Francis.
Let light perpetually shine upon Him forever, and He may join all thy saints in heaven in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Filipino Katoliko
April 22, 2025
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