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Published April 22, 2025 1:43pm
A Filipina looked back on her memorable encounter with Pope Francis while she was in Rome, Italy early this year.
In an interview with “Unang Hirit,” Joan April Chang met the Roman Catholic church leader during the 2025 Jubilee of the World of Communications in Rome in January.
“Nagkaroon po ako ng pagkakataon magkaroon ng private audience with the Pope at kaya naman sobrang memorable at meaningful po ‘non sa akin,” Chang shared.
She also shared a funny conversation she had with Pope Francis where she introduced herself as his “long-lost grandchild.”
“Lumapit ako and then pinakilala ko po 'yung sarili ko bilang isang nawawala niyang apo. Isa po ‘yon sa sinabi ko sa kaniya na ‘Lolo Kiko, I’m Joan from the Philippines. I’m your long-lost grandchild' and natawa lang po talaga si Pope,” Chang recalled.
“Then tinanong niya po ako if half Argentinian ba ako or half Filipina and then sinabi ko ‘Si, si (yes, yes).’ So 'yun 'yung isa sa mga memorable moment and conversation ko with him na hindi ko makakalimutan,” she added.
Chang showed some of the Papal memorabilia she received during the event, including a white and black rosary that Pope Francis blessed and a framed Apostolic Blessing.
“Sobrang meaningful po nito. It reminds me to pray and to remember him always,” she said of the rosary.
She also showed a white zucchetto that she was supposed to give to the pope.
"Ito naman po is supposed to be a gift for him pero na-realize ko kasi at that time na wala akong remembrance so hiningii ko na lang ulit pabalik itong zucchetto and he was so kind to give it back to me," she shared.
Chang also gave words of comfort to those who are mourning the death of Pope Francis.
"Tatagan po natin ang mga loob natin and lagi po niya tayong pinapaalalahanan na magdasal. And lagi niya po sinasabi na mahal na mahal niya ang mga Pilipino and wag po nating kakalimutan 'yun and let's pray for Pope Francis, for his soul," she said.
Pope Francis died on Monday. His passing was announced by the Vatican in a video statement.
He was 88, and had survived a serious bout of double pneumonia.
Pope Francis' death comes a day after he made his first prolonged public appearance since being discharged on March 23 from a 38-day hospital stay for pneumonia.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was the first Latin American Pope. He was elected pope on March 13, 2013.
In 2015, he made a pastoral and state visit to the Philippines.
—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA Integrated News
