MANILA, Philippines – Catholics in the province of Leyte remembered the “profound sense of hope and solidarity” that Pope Francis brought to their communities in 2015, as they prayed for the ailing 88-year-old pontiff.
The Pope remains in critical condition at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital due to double pneumonia, but has shown a “further, slight improvement” as of Wednesday, February 26.
Palo Archbishop John Du said Catholics in the Archdiocese of Palo, a 1.5-million-strong territory which covers most of Leyte, “continue to pray for the well-being of Pope Francis.”
The Pope visited Leyte on January 17, 2015, as part of a four-day trip to the Philippines.
In this province, the pontiff consoled survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the strongest storm to make landfall at that time, which killed at least 6,300 people. Even as Tropical Storm Amang (Mekkhala) brought wind and rain, the Pope even had lunch with around 30 Yolanda survivors and said Mass in an iconic raincoat near the Tacloban airport.
“His presence as the Vicar of Christ served as a powerful symbol of God’s mercy and compassion, reminding us that we are not alone in our collective efforts of healing and rebuilding,” said Du in a statement.
“Our continued prayers and Masses offered for his health and well-being are our powerful way of showing our love to the Holy Father,” he said.
Other Filipino Catholics, especially in the key archdioceses of Manila and Cebu, have joined the rest of the world in praying for the Pope. On Tuesday, February 25, former Manila archbishop and now senior Vatican official Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle led the rosary for the Pope’s healing at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City. – Rappler.com
