‘Bridge-builder’: Flock pay final respects to late Pope Francis

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines President Pablo Virgilio David blesses the image of Pope Francis during the Easter Octave Mass for the Eternal Repose at Caloocan Cathedral on April 22, 2025. —Photo from John Eric Mendoza

MANILA, Philippines — About an hour before the Mass dedicated for the late Pope Francis, Aurea Taruc was already seated in the pews, in deep prayer, at San Roque Cathedral Parish in Caloocan City.

Taruc said she would not let this chance slide to pay her final respects to the late pontiff, whose death still came as a surprise to her.

“I was shocked when I saw it on TV this morning, even if we know that he’s already weak,” Taruc told INQUIRER.net.

Taruc, who lived in France for more two decades before retiring here for good last year, said she also went to Vatican City to personally see the pontiff.

“I was in awe,” Taruc said. “He was still strong that time.”

“He opened so many eyes, and guided people who are getting lost in the right path,” she added.

READ: Pope Francis has died aged 88 – Vatican

Bridge-builder

Taruc is among the hundreds of faithful who joined the Easter Octave Mass for the Eternal Repose of Pope Francis led by Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines President Pablo Virgilio David.

During his homily, David hailed the pontiff as a “bridge-builder” who reached out to all of his fellows despite differences.

“Today, we weep and mourn the passing of our beloved Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who despite his advanced age was able to serve as successor of Peter, Bishop of Rome, and supreme bridge-builder of the universal Church,” David said.

“He has taught us to treat, not just fellow Catholics, not just fellow Christians, not just fellow believers, but all human beings or even all fellow creatures in our common home as fellow travelers in a common journey as fellow pilgrims of hope,” the Bishop of Kalookan added.

Work until moments of death

On Monday, Pope Francis died due to complications of stroke according to the Vatican. He was 88 years old.

David noted that the pontiff’s day of death fell under the Easter Octave, which is the eight-day feast starting from Easter Sunday and ending on the following Sunday.

“It is the Octave of Easter,” David also said. “We’re supposed to be rejoicing, not grieving.”

David then said the faithful should take solace from the fact that the pontiff has “died with the Lord and he now lives on with the Lord as part of the Lord’s Risen Body.”

“Let us therefore allow our tears of sorrow to be transformed into tears of joy,” he said.

Mina Jeong, a Korean sister under the Congregation of Jesus, said she felt sad that the pontiff passed away during what was supposed to be a joyous day.

“He is already 88 years old, but he had worked at the moment of his death,” Jeong, who has been doing her mission in the Philippines for six years, told INQUIRER.net before the mass.

“Pope Francis emphasizes, you go for your mission until the end of the world—that’s why I’m here,” she added.