Advincula: Pope Francis said church must be close to the poor (2025)

Manila Cathedral holds a requiem mass on Tuesday, April 22, for the eternal repose of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Monday, April 21. — Photo from Dianne Sampang/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — In a requiem mass on Tuesday morning for Pope Francis’s eternal repose, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula remembered how the late pope became a reminder of how the Church should open its doors to the poor.

The mass, attended by Faithful Catholics nationwide, was held at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.

The archbishop started the mass by lighting a candle and prayingfor Pope Francis. His photo, surrounded by flowers and candles, was displayed onthe side of the church.

Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula offers a prayer for Pope Francis at the start of the requiem mass on Tuesday, April 22. — Screenshot from Manila Cathedral’s livestream/Facebook

READ: 12 years of Pope Francis: Reform, social justice and tackling abuse

“From the very beginning of his Petrine ministry, the Holy Father has reminded us that the Church must be close to the poor, merciful to all, and a welcoming home for the forgotten,” Advincula said in his homily.

Widely known as the “People’s Pope,” Pope Francis devoted his Petrine ministry — the unique leadership role and authority entrusted to the pontiff as the successor of St. Peter — by standing with the poor and oppressed and going against years-long injustices, such as war, conflict, and sexual abuse by several church leaders.

“Pope Francis reminds us time and again, ‘To meet the living God we must tenderly kiss the wounds of Jesus in our hungry people, in the sick and in imprisoned brothers and sisters…Like the apostle Thomas, our life will only be changed when we touch Christ’s wounds present in the poor, the sick, and the needy. The path to our encounter with Jesus is his wounds. There is no other,’” Advincula said.

READ: Bells toll for Pope Francis: ‘Our Jesus for our age’

Churchgoers fill the Manila Cathedral before the start of requiem mass for Pope Francis on Tuesday, April 22. — Photo by Dianne Sampang/INQUIRER.net

Advincula also reiterated how “Lolo Kiko” became a “true father” to the Filipinos by showing his love through words and actions. He also recalled the memory of the pope visiting the country in January 2015, which he said wouldbe “forever etched in our national memory.”

Meanwhile, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown expressed his gratitude to the Filipinos for tirelessly praying for the pope, from his hospitalization two months ago and his passing.

“For the last two months, I have been asking you to pray for him and you responded with great generosity and great love for your Lolo Kiko,” Brown said in the same mass.

Brown also said prayers helped the poperecover from his hospitalization and his presence atSt. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Easter Sunday.

“I think that was the effect of all the prayers offered all over the world for the Holy Father Pope Francis and especially here in the Philippines,” Brown added.

Pope Francis spent five weeks in the hospital due to double pneumonia. His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, where he also rode the popemobile and met with the people.

He died of a stroke on Easter Monday at the age of 88.