Kaisa si Speaker Martin Romualdez sa pagluluksa ng mundo sa pagpanaw ni Pope Francis.
Ayon sa lider ng Kamara, hindi lamang siya basta Santo Papa, ngunit isang ama at kaibigan, lalo na sa kanilang mga taga-Tacloban na binisita ni Pope Francis matapos manalasa ang bagyong Yolanda.
“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. 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,” ani Romualdez.
Hindi aniya nila malilimutan kung paano niya sinuong ang bagyo at nakiisa sa kanilang pinagdaraanan sa kabila ng pag-ulan, isang paalala na hindi aniya sila iniwan ng Panginoon.
“He braved the storm, stood with us in the rain, and spoke not just as a leader of the Church, but as someone who truly felt our pain. His presence alone gave us strength. His words reminded us that even in loss, we were not alone. That God had not abandoned us.” Sabi pa niya
Ayon kay Romualdez, kinatawan ni Pope Francis and pagiging isang servant leader, na inabot ang mga mahihirap at may sakit hindi lang sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalay ng dasal ngunit sa konkretong aksyon.
“That was who Pope Francis was—someone who saw beyond titles, beyond barriers. He reached out to the poor, the sick, the forgotten, and gave them a voice. He reminded us that true power lies in service, and that faith is not just about rituals, but about love in action,” saad ni Speaker Romualdez.
Aminado ang lider ng Kamara na hindi lang malaking kawalan para sa mga Katoliko ang pagpanaw ng Santo Papa ngunit sa lahat na nakakita ng pag-asa sa kaniyang mga salita.
Tiwala naman si Romualdez na pumanaw man si Lolo Kiko ay mananatiling buhay ang kaniyang alaala sa lahat ng buhay na kaniyang nabago.
“The world has lost a great man. But the kindness, the wisdom, and the deep compassion he shared with us will never fade. Lolo Kiko may have left this earth, but his spirit will live on in every heart he touched. Rest now, Holy Father. You have done more than enough. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for believing in us. We will carry your light forward,” pagtatapos niya. | ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
