Bells toll for Pope Francis: `Our Jesus for our age’

Pope Francis is silhouetted against window light. He was the leader of the Catholic Church for 12 years. Photo by Gabriel Bouys/AFP)

[Updated April 21, 2025, 7:33 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has ordered churches across the country to ring bells for the late Pope Francis as the country’s archbishops express deep mourning on the pontiff’s passing.

The Bishop of Rome died on Monday, the Vatican said. He was 88 years old.

READ: Pope Francis has died-vatican

“Let us please ring the bells of our churches and call our people to prayer for the eternal repose of the Holy Father Pope Francis, who passed on,” said CBCP President Pablo Virgilio David in a text message.

‘Our Jesus for our age’

“He taught us Jesus,” said Lingayen archbishop Socrates Villegas. “Pope Francis was our Jesus for our age.”

“We knew that in him, Jesus was in our midst,” he said.

Villegas said this is because Pope Francis served with humility while showing God’s mercy.

READ: Pope Francis: Remembering his life, teachings and legacy – Live Updates

“He linked us with bridges of compassion with fellow believers and with non-believers. He bravely disturbed us in our complacency and prejudices. He taught us to care for God’s creation,” Villegas said.

The prelate also recalled that the Bishop of Rome assured him when he was “mocked and ridiculed and threatened” by authorities when he was fighting the extrajudicial killings under the past administration.

Villegas said: “He knew his bishops. He knew our tears. He knew us and he loved us. He taught us not to fear.”

“We grieve like orphans because he was truly Lolo Kiko for us,” Villegas said.

‘True father of Filipinos’

Manila archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula said the country will always remember his 2015 visit, which he said is forever etched into the national memory.

“Under the rain in Tacloban, standing with the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, Pope Francis showed us what it means to suffer with others and find hope in the midst of pain,” Advincula said. “In Luneta, as he celebrated the Holy Eucharist with millions, he embraced our joy, our faith and our longing for a Church that walks with its people.”

“Throughout his pontificate, our Lolo Kiko was a true father to us and has continued to show his love for the Philippines — not only through words but through actions,” he continued.