MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday described Pope Francis as the “best pope in my lifetime,” as he expressed deep sorrow over his passing.
“A man of profound faith and humility, Pope Francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten,” Marcos, 67, said in a post on Facebook.
Church bells tolled across Manila on Monday following the news of Pope Francis’ death, a sombre tribute in one of the world’s largest Catholic countries. Nearly 80% of Filipinos identify as Roman Catholic, a legacy of Spanish colonisation in the Philippine archipelago for more than 300 years.
The Pope last visited the Philippines in 2015 drawing a record crowd of up to seven million people during a historic mass in the capital.
His journey included a visit to Tacloban, where he met with survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, the deadliest storm in Philippine history. During that papal visit, a volunteer, Kristel Padasas, died in an accident. Her father, Jun Padasas was heartbroken upon learning of Francis’ death.
“He is now in God’s hands. He feels no more pain and is in a better place,” he said in a phone message. “I spoke to my daughter’s picture while lighting a candle at her altar and said, ‘Pope Francis is gone. Welcome him there.'”
(Reporting by Mikhail Flores and Eloisa Lopez; Editing by Toby Chopra and Peter Graff)
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