Archbishop Charles Brown, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Filipino people on Tuesday for their prayers for Pope Francis during his recent hospitalization and up until his passing.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Requiem Mass at the Manila Cathedral, which he concelebrated with Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, Brown acknowledged the outpouring of support from the Filipino faithful.
“Also, I want to thank all of you, the Filipino people, for the prayers for our Holy Father especially these last two months. In all the Masses that I have been celebrating all over the Philippines, especially [in] Manila, these past two months, I have been asking you to pray for him and you responded with great generosity and with great love for you Lolo Kiko,” Brown said.
He noted that the Pope’s brief recovery and appearance at St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday were likely made possible by the prayers offered around the world—especially in the Philippines.
“I think that was the effect of all the prayers that were offered all over the world for the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Especially here in the Philippines, by you his beloved Filipino people,” he added.
Brown also thanked Cardinal Advincula for inviting him to the Eucharistic Celebration, saying, “In this time of sorrow and sadness I want to thank sincerely His Eminence Jose Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, for having invited me to join him and all of you this morning for this Mass in memory and gratitude for the life of Pope Francis.”
The Vatican official praised Advincula’s homily, saying it “expressed so wonderfully the sentiments in all of our hearts this morning as we mourn of the loss of our Holy Father.”
Archbishop Brown concluded by encouraging Filipinos to continue praying for the soul of the late Pope.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away at the age of 88 due to a stroke and irreversible heart failure. The pontiff visited the Philippines in 2015, where he held a Mass in Tacloban City, a community heavily impacted by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.