Pope Francis in His Final Days
This is a sharing about a great moment in the life of the Catholic Church in witnessing the last days of Pope Francis and welcoming Pope Leo XIV.
When Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital, my heart felt sad. John Mallare kindly invited me to join him in prayer outside the hospital, showing the deep care we share for the Holy Father.
I want to enshrine in this issue of Chronica an epic event in the unfolding history of the Catholic Church, as I witnessed the transition and was part of the movements.
I remember a year ago when friends from the Philippines reached out, asking if I was attending the Chrism Mass with Pope Francis in the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome. They were watching it live on TV, watching the faces of the priests, and hoping to see my face, too. I replied that I was similarly watching the television, only to receive unhappy comments for not being there in person. It felt as though I had failed to physically connect them to the event in the Vatican at that moment, despite their eagerness to be with the Holy Father if they had the chance.
Chrism Mass
Fast forward to this year, during Holy Week in 2025, I felt compelled to attend. Thanks to Raul Cagauauan who drove us to the nearest access to Saint Peter’s Basilica. Roger Nshono, Amos Onezaire, and I gathered very early for the Chrism Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica, hoping to have a blessed Chrism Mass and renewal of priestly vow in the Pope’s presence. However, given his recent health struggles, we all felt a mix of hope and worry about whether he would be there. Celebrating the Mass surrounded by thousands of priests, bishops, cardinals, and the faithful was a beautifully poignant experience. Still, it was marked by a sense of longing for Pope Francis, especially on Holy Thursday.
The Homily of Pope Francis as read by Cardinal Domenico Calgagno said,
“Dear priests, each of us has a word to fulfil. Each of us has a long-standing relationship with the word of God. We put it at the service of others only when the Bible remains our first home. Within it, each of us has some pages that touch us more than others. That is beautiful and important! We also help others to find the pages that touch their lives: such as newlyweds, when they choose the readings for their wedding; or those who are grieving and seek passages to entrust a dear one who has died to the mercy of God and the prayers of the community. There is a page for a vocation, normally at the beginning of each of our journeys. Whenever we read this page, God still calls us, if only we cherish it and do not allow our love to grow cold. For each of us, the page that Jesus chose has a particular meaning. We follow him, and for that reason, his mission has to do directly with us.” (Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana)
After the Chrism Mass, we gathered with confreres of CICM Collegio: Toussaint Monama, Flavien Ulrich Bouambe, John Mallare, Daniel Ocampo, and Charlie Oasan.
Good Friday
On Good Friday, joined by some fellow Filipinos visiting Rome, we took our seats near the central aisle in the Basilica of Saint Peter for the Good Friday service, united in our prayer for the Pope's health. Sadly, our hopes to see him were not realized, leaving us with an ache in our hearts. Nonetheless, it was a deep prayerful experience to have joined in the service in Latin and Italian.
Easter Sunday
Yet, as we approached Easter Sunday, a collective atmosphere of joy and hope prevailed among the people gathered in Saint Peter's Square. We arrived early to secure a good spot, praying fervently for Pope Francis's presence. During Mass, a light feeling of sadness could be felt—the Pope was again absent.
The Easter Sunday homily of Pope Francis was read by Cardinal Angelo Comastri at Saint Peter's Square, on April 20, 2025.
“This is the message of Easter: we must look for him elsewhere. Christ is risen, he is alive! He is no longer a prisoner of death, he is no longer wrapped in the shroud, and therefore we cannot confine him to a fairy tale, we cannot make him a hero of the ancient world, or think of him as a statue in a museum! On the contrary, we must look for him and this is why we cannot remain stationary. We must take action, set out to look for him: look for him in life, look for him in the faces of our brothers and sisters, look for him in everyday business, look for him everywhere except in the tomb.” (Vatican News)
However, the moment that followed was filled with joyful emotion. After the Mass, as the crowd lingered in hope, the Holy Father appeared on the central balcony or loggia of the Basilica to share his Easter greetings and the "Urbis et Orbis" message. The Pope greeted the people on that Easter morning with a hoarse voice. Archbishop Diego Ravelli read the "Urbis et Orbis” message of Pope Francis.
“Christ is risen! These words capture the whole meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. Easter is the celebration of life! God created us for life and wants the human family to rise again! In his eyes, every life is precious! The life of a child in the mother’s womb, as well as the lives of the elderly and the sick, who in more and more countries are looked upon as people to be discarded.
What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of our world! How much violence we see, often even within families, directed at women and children! How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants!”
On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!” (Vatican News)
As I was hurriedly leaving the Square to catch up on the Easter lunch with the community in the Casa, the unexpected happened. Security officers closed the barriers, telling us that the Pope would come down and would greet the people. When the Pope on Popemobile passed just two meters away from me, my heart swelled with emotion. There he was, struggling to wave, his fatigue evident—yet he was still a beacon of the Lord's joy and hope to so many.
I had only wished for a brief glimpse from the balcony, but I was gifted with a closer encounter, which I will always treasure. It felt like a moment of grace, knowing he understood the importance of that Easter Sunday, possibly his last. Gratitude washed over me for this unexpected blessing.
Easter Monday, Pope Francis Passed Away
The following morning, Easter Monday, during breakfast, I shared this experience with confrere, Roger Nshono. I spoke of how seeing the Pope's frail condition might foreshadow his last Easter Sunday.
That morning, we celebrated Holy Mass at 9, and the prayer still mentioned, "in unione con il nostro Papa e vescovo, Francesco."
But shortly after the Mass, I began receiving messages from friends in the Philippines, asking if it was true that Pope Francis had passed away. Caught off guard, I suggested they check the news. My heart sank as I came to learn that he had died that morning at approximately 7:30 a.m. I felt an overwhelming sense of loss, yet a profound gratitude also emerged for having seen him, even just for a fleeting moment.
Though sadness enveloped me, I found solace in that brief encounter. In prayer, I poured out my heart in gratitude for such a kind shepherd of God's people. As the days passed, crowds gathered outside the Basilica to pay their respects to the beloved Pope.
On Easter Thursday, members of the Generalate community traveled to the Vatican to offer prayers of gratitude and for the eternal repose of the Pope. Cruising through the crowd of thousands, we chanced upon John Mallare, who helped us approach the near side of the body of Pope Francis. It was another moment of a blessed close encounter with the Pope.
On Saturday morning during the Easter octave, Amos Onézaire, Roger Nshono, and I attended the Requiem Mass at Saint Peter's Square. The atmosphere was heavy with solemnity, sadness, and gratitude as the square overflowed with hundreds of thousands of faithful. The very solemn Mass was presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re and shared his reflections in the homily.
“Despite his frailty and suffering towards the end, Pope Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life. He followed in the footsteps of his Lord, the Good Shepherd, who loved his sheep to the point of giving his life for them.
The decision to take the name Francis immediately appeared to indicate the pastoral plan and style on which he wanted to base his pontificate, seeking inspiration from the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi.
He maintained his temperament and form of pastoral leadership, and through his resolute personality, immediately made his mark on the governance of the Church. He established direct contact with individuals and peoples, eager to be close to everyone, with a marked attention to those in difficulty, giving himself without measure, especially to the marginalised, the least among us. He was a Pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone. He was also a Pope attentive to the signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church.” (BOLLETINO: Sala Stampa Della Santa Sede)
Exiting the square proved to be a slow journey, with roads in Rome closed to honor the papal procession carrying Pope Francis's body to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, his chosen resting place.
Day after the burial of Pope Francis, Sunday afternoon, Celso Tabalanza invited me to accompany him to visit Pope Francis's tomb in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. We arrived at the piazza behind the Basilica, where a long line of people was waiting to enter. We waited in a two-hour queue under changing weather, with hot, sunny skies alternating with drizzling, overcast conditions.
Pope Francis's legacy embodies compassion and change, inspiring numerous initiatives within the Church. His influence will deeply resonate in the hearts of many, reminding us to embrace the loving presence of God in every individual.
The days that followed were days of joyful and grateful reminiscing about the thoughts, acts, and words of the beloved Pope Francis, as the whole world looked forward with hope to the Conclave to elect the new successor of the first pope, Peter.
The Time of the Conclave
May 7 has been proclaimed as the date for the beginning of the Conclave. Everyone's attention is focused on the Vatican, particularly on the Sistine Chapel and, most notably, on the chimney atop the chapel. Many people believe that there will be no white smoke on the first day.
May 8
On May 8, Charles Phukuta and I concelebrated a Holy Mass with our confreres in the chapel of the Casa Generalizia. It marked Charles's 26th sacerdotal anniversary and mine for 33 years. Additionally, the Holy Mass was offered for the intention of the Conclave. We enjoyed a healthy lunch to celebrate the anniversaries on May 8. During the meal, we engaged in discussions about the "papabile" cardinals, sharing jokes about who at the table might be the next pope. It was typical for a CICM gathering to mention Cardinal Antonio Luis Tagle as a favorite among us.
Cardinal Tagle has been a favorite of the CICM since he graduated secondary education under the administration of the CICM Fathers in a CICM-founded school, Saint Andrew’s School, in Parañaque City, Philippines. He also resided at the CICM Collegio in Rome while pursuing his studies. The friendly cardinal also taught at Maryhill School of Theology, a CICM school of theology in Quezon City, Philippines. These were just trivia facts to share. However, we always pray to God and trust in the Holy Spirit to guide the Conclave in choosing the good shepherd of the Church.
We had mentioned that May 8 would be a good date for the election of a new pope. After lunch, some of my confreres from the Casa Generalizia decided to go to Piazza di San Pietro, feeling strongly that the white smoke would appear that evening and a new pope would be proclaimed. Other confreres, Rex Salvilla and Marcio Flavio Martins made their way to the Piazza San Pietro on their own.
I left the Casa at 5 p.m. and walked down to Via della Pisana to wait for Bus 881. I kept my phone open the whole time, watching the live video feed of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. I didn’t want to miss the moment the white smoke appeared, even if I was only watching it live online. After waiting at the bus stop for about 15 minutes, Roger Nshono and Amos Onézaire arrived at the same bus stop.
Along with other passengers, we all boarded Bus 881. I kept my phone open to show the video, waiting for any smoke to appear from the chimney. We were watching a family of three seagulls—two adults and one baby—landing and walking around the chimney. We commented that the white smoke would be coming out soon, noting that the seagull family was there to welcome it.
As the bus approached Vatican City, I spotted smoke coming from the chimney, just as I had seen on my phone screen. I exclaimed, “There is white smoke coming out!” A girl sitting next to me glanced at my phone and asked, “Fumata bianca, fumata bianca?” I replied, “Sì, è fumata bianca!”
It was indeed white smoke. We have a pope! Everyone on the bus erupted in cheers, while I thought to myself that the other passengers seemed uninterested in the election of the pope.
After a few seconds of the white smoke (seen on the monitor), our bus stopped and so did all the other vehicles on the road. I saw police blocking all the cars and setting the barrier. We were made to get off the bus since there was no way to continue. Everyone in the bus was in jubilation and shouting, “Abbiamo un nuovo Papa!”
Everyone is rushing down Via Cavalleggeri. People from the stores were also shouting, “Abbiamo un nuovo Papa!” Seeing the people rushing to reach the Piazza di San Pietro. I guess everyone was rushing to catch a glimpse of the white smoke.
In my mind, a picture like a scene from a movie depicts an old European town plaza where important news was to be announced, as though the town plaza was the only source of information, so people rushed to gather there. It must be that way before all the modern technologies. Everyone rushed to the plaza for the big news. Indeed, the announcement of a new pope is big news, not only to the town but to the whole world.
Amos, Roger, and I joined the rush until we reached the security barriers, where people were being checked. I had the opportunity to join the queue where media personnel were given priority access. I entered the front quadrant of the piazza, where the large central balcony was visible in the distance. A huge crowd was already gathered in the piazza. People were waiting. Chanting could be heard, and some names of the “papabile” were said in the crowd.
About 60 minutes had passed when the large door on the balcony began to open, and the crowd erupted in excitement for the upcoming announcement. The men who stepped out onto the balcony appeared quite small from my vantage point. Fortunately, my phone has an excellent zoom feature, allowing me to see their faces clearly and capture good videos and photos of the announcement. The crowd erupted with joy and excitement.
“Habemus Papam.”
The Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti spoke in Latin, “Habemus Papam.” He continued, “Annuntio vobis gaudium: HABEMUS PAPAM! Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum Robertum Franciscum Sanctae Romane Ecclesiae Cardinalem Prevost qui sibi nomen imposuit Leo XIV”.
People clapped and cheered, but the noise wasn’t as loud as when the white smoke and the announcement of “Habemus Papam” were made. In the crowd, people were asking one another, “Chi è?”—“Who is he?”
The name of the new pope had not been widely mentioned in the media or public discussions. Nevertheless, the announcement of a new pope filled the people with joy and excitement as they eagerly awaited his appearance. The marching band of the Swiss Guard began to play music as they marched, positioning themselves in front of the basilica, directly below and in front of the central balcony.
The two side balconies were also filled with cardinals with their red hats waiting for the appearance of the new pope whom they elected.
At the 70th minute, after the white smoke appeared, the giant door of the central balcony began to open, prompting the crowd to cheer and clap in jubilation. A man dressed in a red vestment and wearing a white cap emerged onto the balcony. The people celebrated, clapping and chanting, "Papa Leone! Papa Leone!"
The new Pope’s first words were, "La pace sia con voi." The people responded, somewhat uncertainly, "E con il tuo spirito." They continued clapping, shouting, and chanting, "Papa Leone! Papa Leone!" Nations celebrated in jubilation, represented by people carrying their national flags.
“Peace be with you all! Dear brothers and sisters, these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for God’s flock. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you! It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally. … Together, we must look for ways to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and encourages dialogue, a Church ever open to welcoming, like this Square with its open arms, all those who are in need of our charity, our presence, our readiness to dialogue and our love.” (Vatican News)
After delivering his message, the pope remained on the balcony for some time, watching the crowd and waving at the people in the piazza. Eventually, Pope Leone turned around, signaling the end of his joyful presentation. People began to disperse from the piazza, feeling happy and fulfilled for having prayed for the success of the conclave and the election of the pope. As people left the center of the piazza, they took the road back home, walking since no buses were available.
Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV
On May 18 at 6:00 a.m., Anthony Lim drove us, Amos Onézaire, Roger Nshono, and me to Via Gregorio VII to the nearest possible point to the Vatican to attend and concelebrate the Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV. The vicinity around the Vatican was closed to traffic. Anthony dropped us off at the nearest spot near the Vatican. We alighted and started walking. We took the security queue for priests concelebrating. At 7 a.m., we are seated in a good spot to see the new Pope. People, lay, religious, and priests were pouring into the Piazza di San Pietro in thousands. At around 9 a.m., a novelty of the new pontificate, the Pope appeared in his popemobile to drive around the piazza, greeting and blessing the people. It was a novelty for the Pope to greet the people around the piazza before the celebration of the Holy Mass. Hundreds of thousands of faithful were in great jubilation for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. It marked the beginning of a new era in the Petrine ministry within the Catholic Church.
“Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world. In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest. For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion and fraternity within the world. We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: in the one Christ, we are one. This is the path to follow together, among ourselves but also with our sister Christian churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with those who are searching for God, with all women and men of good will, in order to build a new world where peace reigns! This is the missionary spirit that must animate us; not closing ourselves off in our small groups, nor feeling superior to the world. We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.” (Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana)
I am truly overjoyed to have experienced these remarkable events firsthand, feeling the pulse of history in the air as I stood witness to this monumental moment for both the Church and the world. It was an extraordinary privilege to be part of such a transformative time, where every moment resonated with significance and hope.
- Renillo Sta. Ana, cicm
