Former OP staff attests how Pope’s mere gaze calmed troubled souls

Pope Francis visits families of typhoon Yolanda victims in one of the areas in Palo, Leyte, on Saturday, January 17, 2015. —Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacanang Photo Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — It is not uncommon for people to feel shy or to just retreat into a cocoon after having the chance to meet well-known people, like celebrities or politicians who have larger-than-life personalities. Some may even feel unworthy of their idols’ attention.

This was what Katherine Adraneda, a former officer at the Office of the President, felt when she had the chance to meet Pope Francis, as she was part of the team preparing for the pontiff’s visit to the Philippines in 2015.

“May parating na bagyo no’n, but the Pope decided na itutuloy niya, so as part of the National Secretariat, minabuti ng boss namin na pumunta kami do’n ahead, parang advance, to check ’yong dadaanan ni Pope, ’yong lahat ng mga pupuntahan niya, dahil nga may paparating na bagyo […] but ’yong pinunta ko do’n is work, hindi ko naman naisip na magkakaro’n ng chance,” she said.

(A storm was approaching the country, but the Pope decided to push with the trip, so as part of the National Secretariat, our boss decided that we go ahead of everyone, like an advance party, to check on the routes that the Pope would take and the areas that he will visit, because a storm was looming. But I was there for work, and I did not think about having a chance to meet him.)

READ: Pope Francis was guiding light for Filipinos after Yolanda–Romualdez

“But you know, habang nando’n ka, parang iniisip mo, mami-meet mo ba, may chance ba, kasi minsan mafi-feel mo parang hindi ka worthy kasi you know, marami tayong may nagagawang (mali). But nagkataon na kung saan kami nag-aabang, doon siya dumaan,” she added.

(But you know, while you were there, the thought of having the chance to meet the Pope crossed your mind, but sometimes you also feel unworthy because you know, we may have done a lot of bad things in the past. But it so happened that we were stationed in an area that he would pass by.)

However, Adraneda said Francis never made her feel unworthy—even if she thought she was. Instead, what she felt was a sense of peace after looking into the Pope’s eyes.

“So na-realize ko, well, siguro, ito ’yon, napagbigyan kami and siyempre ’yong opportunity na ’yon hindi mo malilimutan kasi very humbling siya parang sometimes na feeling mo unworthy, but meron ka pa ring chance na ito ’yon, humingi ka ng tawad, isipin ’yong mga bagay […] Surreal pero very humbling talaga,” she said.

(So I realized, maybe this is it, we were given an opportunity which we will not forget because it was very humbling, like sometimes you feel unworthy, but you still have a chance to do that, so you ask for forgiveness and think about things. It’s surreal but also very humbling.)

“Sobra-sobrang overwhelming […] hindi ka talaga makakapaniwala, so nanginginig ka pa, malamig ‘yong kamay mo pero kapag nakatingin ka sa kanya, ‘pag nag-eye to eye, parang may sense of peace, hindi ko rin ma-explain. Parang in a way kakalma ka,” she added.

(It was so overwhelming […] you cannot believe that this is happening, so you are shaking, your hands are cold, but once you stare at him, you get a gaze from his eyes, there seems to be a sense of peace, which I cannot also explain. Like, in a way, you would be calm.)

Adraneda also believes that this meeting with Francis had a lasting and immediate impact on her life, as she was inside the second plane that was supposed to fly after the one carrying the Pope left Tacloban, Leyte.

READ: Pope Francis consoled him in his grief, now he mourns his passing

Instead of following the Pope’s plane, the aircraft carrying Adraneda and other officials of the Aquino administration faced problems while taking off and skidded through the runway.

“Dahil ang sama ng panahon so ang naging usapan, ‘okay, dahil pasama nang pasama ang panahon, paunahing mag-take off ’yong plane ni Pope papuntang Manila. So nauna si Pope and then sumunod ’yong sa amin. Pero […] nag-take off kami nang kaunti pero sumabog ’yong gulong and ’yon na ’yong aksidente na nangyari, so pa-ikot ikot kami, akala ko katapusan ko na dahil nakikita ko na ’yong dagat eh,” she said.

(Because the weather was getting worse, the discussion was ‘okay, we will let the Pope’s plane bound for Manila take off first.’ So the Pope’s plane took off, and we were supposed to follow. But our plane took off for just a short while before the wheels exploded, and the accident started. We started spinning across the runway, and we thought that was the end for us because I saw the seas getting closer.)

“Feeling ko do’n na kami papunta, so lahat nagdadasal. So I think ’yon ’yung test din no’ng faith, so lahat lang kami nagdasal, humingi ng kapatawaran and all. Tapos biglang huminto ’yong plane, and then buhay kaming lahat, walang major na nasaktan, but of course may mga pasa-pasa. Pwede kong masabi na second life eh,” she noted.

(I thought we were headed for the waters, so everybody was praying. So I think it was also a test of faith, so we all just prayed and asked for forgiveness. Then the plane suddenly stopped, and we were all alive, with no one suffering from major injuries, only bruises. I can say that was my second life.)

Catholics from around the world are mourning Francis’ death, which came just a day after he participated in the Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican.

Tributes also poured in, including from Filipinos who thanked the late pontiff for standing with the country, particularly Eastern Visayas, which was still reeling at that time from the effects of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Yolanda barreled through the country, leaving extensive damage over Eastern Visayas in 2013, a few months after Francis took over the papacy.

Earlier, Filipino priest Francis Lucas recalled the pope’s humility, as he still asked for prayers even if he was already the highest official in the Roman Catholic Church. Other Filipinos also noted how Pope Francis’ mere presence was enough to give them hope during dark times.

Even during his last days, Francis tried to participate in the Vatican’s activities, earning praise from observers as he seemingly willed himself out of a life-threatening ailment. Francis was hospitalized for 38 days due to recurring respiratory issues and was released just this March 23.