Zamboangueños recall moments with Pope Francis

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Pope Francis 'radiated an aura of humility and simplicity that nonetheless commanded deep respect,' says one of those who saw him in his 2015 visit in Manila

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Filipinos around the country paid tribute to Pope Francis following his death on April 21, many of them through recollections of meeting or seeing the pontiff in the country and in the Vatican.

Several Zamboanga residents shared with Rappler their precious experiences with Pope Francis, who will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 26.

Hadja Sarah Lukman Handang, an education program supervisor at the Department of Education Regional Office recalled that in 2017, she was among the crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City where Pope Francis had just officiated Easter Sunday Mass.

She was a Muslim and was a fellow of the Nostra Aetate Foundation (NAF), which was under the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Vatican. She had brought with her a plastic bag with 150 rosaries that she hoped the pontiff would be able to bless. Her Catholic friends had requested the blessed rosaries as pasalubong (gift from a trip).

“It was a miracle he walked straight to me from among the crowd and ask me if I were a Muslim. I said yes. He asked me why I’m at Vatican, I answered I’m one of the NAF fellow from the Philippines. I took my plastic full of rosaries and asked him to bless them. I said this is for my Catholic friends. He really was so happy and gave me a squeeze in my hand and said ‘You’re a kind-hearted lady,'” she recalled.

“It was qadr (fate) that he approached me and I asked him to bless these rosaries for my Catholic friends. He is so happy beaming with the purest smile, that moment I felt that even religious differences cannot put away respect and love towards friends and families,” Handang added.

‘FATE.’ From among the crowd outside St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis approaches Sarah Lukman Handang after the Easter Sunday Mass in 2017. Photo courtesy of Sarah Lukman Handang

She said her friends cried with joy after they received the rosaries. “My heart was filled with joy indeed I was able to make them happy, and had created a bond of love and respect amid our diversity  standing of the common ground on the love of God.”

It was also at St. Peter’s Basilica where Rolando Inclan and his family had a chance to meet Pope Francis. He brought his camera with him and he was able to see the pope through the lens but he had difficulty getting a good shot. Then they noticed that the Pontifical Swiss Guards were standing near them, and there was a small black car parked at the entrance door that faced them.

“This is the Pope’s car, and it became clearer to us that this is the way he would exit! I put my camera on top of the barrier for steady video shots. Then I saw his personal security appear, turning right towards us, followed by no other than His Eminence, Pope Francis, on his wheelchair,” Inclan recalled.

PAPAL ENCOUTER. Pope Francis greets people gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica. Photo courtesy of Rolando Inclan 

“I could not believe what transpired. The Pope passed right in front of me! Of us! And, I touched his hand! It was only then that I felt like crying,” he added.

Paul Madrigalejo, a senior copywriter, was among those who braved the rains to attend Pope Francis’ mass in Luneta, Manila, on January 19, 2015.  He said they had no protection from the rain, and the streets were already packed by the time they got there so getting close to the path of the popemobile was a challenge.

“Then it happened. The popemobile passed just a few meters away from us. I quickly took a photo. And I saw him. For a few seconds, everything else faded. The rain, the walk, the discomfort. I can’t fully explain it, but something shifted in me. I was just happy. Maybe it was the payoff after everything we went through, or maybe I was experiencing God through his presence. Either way, it felt meaningful. I was completely happy, at peace, and somehow lighter. That moment will always stay with me,” said Madrigalejo.

“That’s why I’m deeply saddened by his passing. The very person who, even from a distance, helped strengthen my faith and brought me closer to God, is now gone. It feels personal. It’s like I lost someone who once lit a spark in me,” he added.

Anton Mari Lim also saw Pope Francis in person during his Manila visit in 2015. He was at the Malacañang event for the pope.

POPE IN MANILA. Yellow Hope Foundation stakeholders Anton Mari Lim and Josh Mahinay at the Malacañang reception for Pope Francis on January 16, 2015. Photo courtesy of Anton Maria Lim

“Even then, he radiated an aura of humility and simplicity that nonetheless commanded deep respect. He was warm and accommodating — walking slowly, always smiling, ensuring everyone could see him and capture a memory. That brief encounter left a lasting impression on me,” Lim said.

“Today, I join the world in mourning his passing with profound sadness. Though we knew this day would come, the loss still feels heavy. Pope Francis lived a life dedicated to service, compassion, and justice, especially for the poor and marginalized. He was a beacon of hope, a progressive shepherd who led with courage and love, and whose legacy will continue to inspire generations,” he added.

Lim said that he is grateful for the example set by Pope Francis, and for the peace he brought to many, including the Filipino people whom the pontiff held close to his heart. – Rappler.com