President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a national period of mourning following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. The mourning period will last until the Pope’s burial on Saturday, April 26.
In Proclamation No. 871, Marcos Jr. paid tribute to the Pope as “a global symbol of humility, compassion, and peace,” noting his lifelong commitment to the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable, as well as his advocacy for justice and interfaith dialogue.
The President also recalled Pope Francis’s 2015 Apostolic Visit to the Philippines, where he offered comfort to survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda and praised the resilience of the Filipino people.
“The passing of Pope Francis is a moment of profound sorrow for the Catholic Church and for the Filipino people, who recognize him as a global leader of compassion and a tireless advocate for peace, justice, and human dignity,” his proclamation read.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, led the Catholic Church for 12 years. He was the first Jesuit, Latin American, and non-European pope in over 1,200 years, and served more than 1.3 billion Catholics, including millions of Filipinos.
Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will attend the Pope’s funeral in Vatican City on April 26 at 10:00 AM (08:00 GMT) in St. Peter’s Square, where the Pope made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, April 20.IMT
