Tacloban City sends off Pope Francis with gratitude

Armed with his trademark charisma, a raincoat-clad Pope Francis dispenses endless hope and joy while he waves to warmly welcoming well-wishers in Tacloban, where his long-awaited visit in 2015, however, had to be cut short because of heavy rains from Tropical Storm “Amang.” (AFP)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – Saturday morning in this coastal city  starts out like it usually does — initially foggy, followed by a gentle breeze, and then with a blistering heat of the summer sun by noon.

The city has been on a steady path of recovery ever since Super Typhoon Yolanda barreled through Eastern Visayas in 2013, which led to thousands of deaths, massive destruction, and displaced families. 

Memories haunt residents though, with some people still refusing to recall details of the harrowing ordeal.

But as if a reminder that 10 years ago, someone stood by them to remind them that they are not alone — rain fell down in Tacloban, just like when the head of the Roman Catholic Church visited to share in the pain of his flock.

Pope Francis may have passed away, but Tacloban residents would forever be grateful for the simple yet touching gesture of listening to their pleas and understanding their suffering.

On Saturday, Tacloban and Eastern Visayas come together again to remember Francis, as funeral rites will be held in the Vatican for the late pontiff.

Maribeth dela Peña, a member of a church organization in Leyte, said that Francis’ visit in January 2015 enabled them to continue fighting for their future, and having faith that things will be better.

“Naaalala namin si Pope Francis nang dumating po siya dito sa Tacloban, naramdaman namin ‘yong pagmamahal na ipinakita niya sa amin, tapos ‘yong parang kahit na malayo siyang tao, pinuntahan niya pa rin,” dela Peña told reporters covering the thanksgiving mass here near the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport.

(We remember Pope Francis when he went here to Tacloban, we felt his love for us, even if he is far away from us, he still went to visit us.)

“Ipinakita niya na may pag-asa kami, nabigyan kami ng pag-asa,” she added.

(He showed that there is hope for us, he gave us hope.)

Francis’ visit to Tacloban, at the height of another storm, was one of the highlights of his visit to the Philippines. 

After Francis’ death was announced by the Vatican, different social media pages and personalities, including journalists who covered the event, also remembered how the pope braved the bad weather, blessing people while he was wearing a yellow raincoat.

READ: Pope Francis in PH: A look back at his 2015 trip to Manila, Leyte  

Paul Padasas, the father of a young Filipino volunteer who died in an accident when Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Tacloban City, Leyte, previously said he was “at a loss for words” as the person who consoled him before is now gone.

Pope Francis waves to devotees who attendeded his mass in Tacloban airport. CDN

Padasas met Francis after the Pope honored his daughter, 27-year-old Kristel Mae, during another mass at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

 “I am really in sorrow now. I was in disbelief when a relative told me, but sadness filled my heart when I checked the page of Vatican News,” he told INQUIRER.net.

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

Officials from Leyte, including House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, meanwhile thanked the Pope for being a guiding light, and for standing with the province after Yolanda’s onslaught.

“It is with a heavy heart that I join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, whom we in Leyte — and across the Philippines — lovingly called ‘Lolo Kiko’,” Romualdez, who represents Leyte’s first district, said.

 “To us, he was more than a Pope. He was a father, a friend, a guiding light in times of darkness. I will never forget how he came to Tacloban in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, when our people were suffering beyond words,” he added.

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

Francis, an Argentinian cardinal born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away early Monday morning in the Vatican, just a day after the Catholic world celebrated Easter Sunday to commemorate Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

 He was 88.

Francis’ passing came after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter’s Square. 

Prior to his return to his duties, Francis suffered from a bout with pneumonia.

He spent 38 days in hospital before he was discharged on March 23.