Pope Francis taught me to serve the church, says a Filipino devotee

Zeus Bunyi, a 28-year-old Catholic, attends the Manila Cathedral’s requiem mass for Pope Francis on Tuesday, April 22. (Photo by Dianne Sampang/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — “He drew me to serve [the church]. I heard Jesus’ call for me to serve His church through Pope Francis.”

This is what a 28-year-old Catholic faithful told INQUIRER.net when asked how Pope Francis changed his life.

Zeus Bunyi travelled for two hours from Laguna to attend the Manila Cathedral’s requiem mass on Tuesday morning for the eternal repose of Pope Francis. Describing the mass as “touching,” Bunyi recalled the time he saw the pope for the first time in January 2015.

READ: Advincula: Pope Francis said church must be close to the poor

“I reminisced. It was reminiscent of the memory I had back in 2015, this is where we attended his mass. I was able to see the Papal visit outside,” Bunyi said in Filipino.

Bunyi also shared that prior to meeting Pope Francis, he was not active in church despite studying in a Catholic school.

“After that mass and after his Papal visit in 2015, my faith became stronger and I learned how to serve the church, and in every way that I can,” Bunyi added.

Since 2015, Bunyi mentioned that he has been an “all around” servant of God, emphasizing that a goal of a Church servant is to serve “whenever you are called, whenever you are sent.”

‘Pass the boards’

Bunyi said that he knew he had to attend the mass in Manila Cathedral before reviewing for his board exams later that day.

“I came from Laguna, and my class was due later and I found out it was at 9 a.m. so it was the perfect timing for me to send some prayers for Pope Francis,” he said.

A Dentistry graduate from the University of the Philippines Manila, he said that passing the boards is part of his everyday prayers.

“It’s the perfect time to pray in this season,” he concluded.

READ: Pope Francis: radical leader who broke the papal mould

Widely known as the “People’s Pope,” Pope Francis devoted his Petrine Ministry by standing up with the poor and oppressed and going against years-long injustices, such as war and conflict and sexual abuse by several church leaders.

Pope Francis died of a stroke on Easter Monday at the age of 88 in Vatican City. The late pope last appeared in public on Easter Sunday, where he was seen riding a popemobile and meeting people.