Philippines Marcos refers to Pope Francis as “the best pope in my lifetime”

On Monday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr expressed profound sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis, whom he referred to as the “best pope in my lifetime.”

“A man of deep faith and humility, Pope Francis guided us not just with wisdom but with a heart that embraced everyone, particularly the poor and the overlooked,” Marcos, 67, shared in a Facebook post.

On Monday, church bells rang out across Manila in a solemn tribute to Pope Francis following the announcement of his death, resonating deeply in one of the largest Catholic nations in the world. Approximately 80% of Filipinos identify as Roman Catholic, a result of over 300 years of Spanish colonization in the Philippine archipelago.

The Pope’s last visit to the Philippines was in 2015, where he attracted a remarkable crowd of up to seven million people for a historic mass in the capital.

His journey featured a visit to Tacloban, where he engaged with survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, the most devastating storm in Philippine history. During that papal visit, a tragic accident claimed the life of a volunteer, Kristel Padasas. Upon learning of Francis’ death, her father, Jun Padasas, was filled with heartbreak.

He is now in the care of a higher power. “He feels no more pain and is in a better place,” he conveyed in a phone message. I addressed my daughter’s picture while lighting a candle at her altar, saying, ‘Pope Francis is gone.’ Welcome him there.