How Pope Francis stood up for the marginalized 

Pope Francis was called the “Pope of the People” for standing up for the voiceless and the minority. 

The late Pope was also praised for being open to various sectors of society. 

Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday looked back at how Pope Francis showed compassion to everyone. 

On women: "Women, and I always say this, are more important than men, because the church is female."

On indigenous people: “Sorry for how, regrettably, many Christians supported the colonizing mentality of the powers that oppressed the indigenous peoples.''

On abuse victims: “I listened to those who were abused, I believe it is a duty…We have a responsibility to help those who have been abused and to take care of them.”

On migrants: “Another way of solving the problem of immigration is to help the countries the people are coming from. Migrants come because of hunger or war.” 

Pope Francis was also known for welcoming the members of the LGBTQIA+ community after emphasizing that he has no right to judge members of the community. 

“People with homosexual tendencies are children of God. God loves them, God is with them…If a person with homosexual tendencies is a believer and seeks God, who am I to judge?" he said. 

However, on the issues of death penalty and abortion, the Pope had consistently adopted the Church's stance against them.

On the death penalty: “This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty.”

Pope Francis had also never been judgmental of anyone. 

 "Please, I tell the priests, do not get tired of forgiving. Be forgivers. [Do] as Jesus did,” he said. 

The Pope has also shown humility in acknowledging and taking action on the shortcomings of the Church leadership. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA INtegrated News