The death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday reverberated across the Philippines, as the deeply Catholic nation mourned the loss of a beloved spiritual figure affectionately known as “Lolo Kiko” – a local nickname meaning “Grandpa Francis”, derived from the common shorthand for those with that name.
“He was truly Lolo Kiko for us,” said Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the most senior Catholic prelate in the country. “Although we grieve like orphans … we also stand firm in faith and hope that the radiance of the risen Lord will shine upon him forever.”
Villegas recalled the pope’s quiet support during a turbulent period in Philippine politics.
“When I was mocked and ridiculed and threatened by government authorities in my stand against the extrajudicial killings,” he said, referring to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, “he assured me and encouraged me personally in Rome to carry on my task of guiding the flock through my pastoral letters.”
“He knew his bishops. He knew our tears. He knew us and he loved us. He taught us not to fear,” the monsignor said.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the church policymaking body, was quoted by Reuters as saying, “Oh my God. I am so shocked by this.