More solons mourn Pope’s death: A father who cared for his children (2025)

(FILES) Pope Francis stands up at the end of a prayer vigil on the occasion of the Jubilee of Divine Mercy at St Peter’s square in Vatican on April 2, 2016. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 announced The Vatican. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines— More lawmakers from the House of Representatives have mourned the death of Pope Francis, with several remembering him for his visit here in the country and how he showed concern for Filipinos recovering from Super Typhoon Yolanda’s onslaught in 2013.

In a statement on Monday, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said that Francis will always be acknowledged by the world as a pope who tried to instill reforms within the Roman Catholic Church by reminding people that they cannot be “indifferent to the cries of the poor, the migrants, the sick, the forgotten.”

However, Acidre said he, along with Filipinos especially those from Eastern Visayas who were hard-hit by Yolanda, will remember the pope for visiting them in January 2015, and consoling them despite strong rains and winds.

“But for me — and for many of us in Eastern Visayas and the Philippines — there is one moment that will forever be etched in our hearts. That grey, stormy day in January 2015, when he came to Tacloban. We were still grieving, still trying to rebuild our lives after the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda. The skies were dark, the winds fierce, the pain still fresh. And yet, he came,” Acidre said.

“Soaked by the rain, unbothered by the storm, he stood with us in the middle of our suffering. He didn’t give a long speech. He didn’t need to. His presence alone was the message. His tears were a prayer. His embrace, a blessing. That day, he was not just the Pope. He was a father who came to comfort his children. A shepherd who did not hesitate to walk through the storm. A man of God who stood in solidarity with a people trying to find hope again,” he added.

It is for this reason, Acidre said, that the country will mourn but give thanks for Francis’ well-lived life.

“And that is how we will remember Pope Francis. Not just as a reformer, or a leader, or a global figure—but as a witness. A man who practiced what he preached. Who showed us that the Gospel is not about pomp and power, but about mercy, tenderness, and truth. A man who loved deeply, served humbly, and walked with us faithfully,” he said.

“Today, we mourn. But we also give thanks. Thank you, Pope Francis—for your life, your love, your service. For reminding us that faith must be lived with open hands and open hearts. For challenging the Church to be more welcoming, more compassionate, more like Christ,” he added.

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, a Filipino Muslim, meanwhile said that Francis was able to touch so many lives across the world, and can be credited for improved ties between Muslims and Christians.

“Pope Francis remained a steadfast voice for justice and human dignity. In what would become his last Easter message, he once again called for peace in our troubled world, with a particular plea for an end to the violence and suffering of the Palestinian people. His words reminded us all of the sacredness of every human life, regardless of nationality or religion, and the urgent need for peace rooted in justice,” Adiong said.

“Pope Francis will be remembered not only as a shepherd of the Catholic Church but one of the leading voices for a more just and conscionable world. His deep empathy for the oppressed, including the Palestinian people, and his efforts to build bridges between Muslims and Christians will live on in the hearts of all who yearn for a more humane and compassionate world,” he added.

Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc also praised Francis for having his heart in the right advocacies — a “tireless advocacy for the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized.”

“Pope Francis was not only the head of the Catholic Church but also a moral compass in our troubled times,” Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said. “He reminded the world that true faith must be lived through service to the oppressed and the defense of human dignity.”

“He was a radical for love and justice His calls for systemic change—whether in the economy, environmental policy, or the Church—resonated with the struggles of teachers, workers, farmers, and the poor,” ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said.

“Pope Francis showed that genuine spirituality must go hand-in-hand with political courage. He reminded us that defending human rights, speaking truth to power, and caring for the poor are not only political acts—they are moral imperatives,” Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel added.

Agri party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee meanwhile noted that Francis’ visit to the Philippines during tough times gave Filipinos the strength and resolve to move forward.

“Sa kanyang pagbisita dito sa Pilipinas, marami po sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang dumadaan sa matinding pagsubok, ang binigyan niya ng lakas at pag-asang bumangon at patuloy na manalig sa Panginoon,” he said.

“Mananatiling inspirasyon ang legasiya niya ng pagsusulong ng katarungang panlipunan, pagkakapantay-pantay, kababaang-loob, kapayapaan, pagmamahalan at malasakit sa isa’t isa, lalo na sa pinaka-nangangailangan,” he added.

Earlier, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez remembered the late pope by noting how he stood with Filipinos, and even came to Leyte to comfort Yolanda survivors.

READ: Pope Francis was guiding light for Filipinos after Yolanda – Romualdez

“It is with a heavy heart that I join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, whom we in Leyte — and across the Philippines — lovingly called ‘Lolo Kiko’,” Romualdez, who represents Leyte’s first district, said.

“To us, he was more than a Pope. He was a father, a friend, a guiding light in times of darkness. I will never forget how he came to Tacloban in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, when our people were suffering beyond words,” he added.

Last January 2015, when he visited the Philippines, Francis made a stop to Leyte, which was still reeling from the effects of Yolanda. The pope, who was already 78 during that time, braved strong winds and rain caused by Tropical Storm Amang.

READ: Leyteños sad Pope’s visit was cut short by typhoon but glad he’s safe back in Manila

The Vatican eventually decided to cut Francis’ trip to Leyte short because of the bad weather, but Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle — who was then Manila’s archbishop — noted several firsts in the visit.

According to Tagle, Francis told him that it was the first time that the pontiff celebrated a Mass in stormy weather.

READ: Tagle lists ‘firsts’ in Pope’s visit to Leyte

Romualdez said this gesture from the pope — who was seen visiting families in Yolanda-hit areas — was much appreciated by Leyte natives.

Francis, an Argentinian cardinal born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away early Monday morning in the Vatican, just a day after the Catholic world celebrated Easter Sunday to commemorate Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

He was 88.

Francis’ passing came after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. Prior to his return to his duties, Francis suffered from a bout with pneumonia, during which insiders said he came close to dying twice.

He spent 38 days in hospital before he was released on March 23.