Bicol Churches ring bells for Pope Francis

Requiem Masses offered, Day of Mourning held

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat

On Easter Monday, April 21, the Holy Father, Pope Francis passed away in his home, Casa Santa Marta, after suffering a stroke, which eventually led to a coma and cardiocirculatory collapse. He was 88. This comes after almost a month since he was discharged from the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome after enduring a complex case of bilateral pneumonia.

In his wake, Bicol Bishops and priests paid tribute and immediately offered masses. Last Easter Tuesday, April 22, Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon presided over their Diocesan Requiem Mass for Pope Francis. In his homily, Baylon recalled his personal encounters with Francis, whom he described as “accessible, approachable and welcoming”. He said, “He was just one of us. He never exuded power or authority. He was never distant. He made us feel welcome -[this] will always be the image that I have of Pope Francis.”

In addition, the Legazpi prelate spoke of the kind of papacy the late Pontiff lived out. Francis was simple, he said, and had high respect and regard for people -whoever they may be and wherever they may be coming from. “He was a man for others,” he continued to say, “but was also a man with courage. He challenged others. [He called us] to be merciful, not condemning; to embrace, not to reject; to respect, not to abuse and misuse one another.”

Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon called Pope Francis the “Pope of our time”. This he said in an article published for Licas News. According to Alarcon, the Pope’s final public appearance on Easter Sunday, which came as a pleasant surprise, “was a genuine sacrifice” from him -to “allow us a glimpse of him, giving us a glimpse of hope and Easter”. The Pope’s greeting on Easter Sunday, “Fratelli e sorelle, Buona Pasqua (Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter)”, the Caceres prelate said, “now resonates as both farewell and blessing”. Alarcon also called Francis “a Pope for all”.

In the Diocese of Virac, a Day of Mourning was called for by Virac Bishop Luisito Occaino on the day of the Pope’s passing. A requiem mass to be presided over by Occiano is slated on Easter Friday, April 25.

The funeral of Pope Francis is scheduled on Easter Saturday, April 26, at 4PM (Philippine time).