Until the end, 'The People's Pope' chose to serve

Even in his last days, Pope Francis offered what remained of his time on earth to serve the people. 

In Tina Panganiban Perez’s Monday report on Saksi, Alex Kayne Santiago, who had a close encounter with the late pope, is among those who grieved his passing.

Santiago’s group was recognized in the “Uni-servitate 2024” as the best solidarity-service learning experience in Catholic higher education.

“When I posted in social media, sobrang emotional po ako and sobrang thankful when Pope Francis mentioned, 'Is this for me?' Then, nakangiti po sya ng sobrang laki po. Then, nung time po na yun, lahat kami is we had the opportunity for everyone of us to talk with Pope Francis. Kung ano ang advocacy namin, what we did, and shinare ko po kay Pope Francis,” Santiago said.

(When I posted on social media, I was so emotional and thankful when Pope Francis mentioned, "Is this for me?" while he was smiling. During that time, we all had the opportunity to talk to him about our advocacy and what we did.)

He added this brief encounter with the pontiff changed his life.

“I'll give my best to be a better version of myself to also serve the community with the guidance of Pope Francis,” Santiago said.

Despite being confined in a hospital from February 14 to March 23, Pope Francis continued to send messages of love, hope, and peace to countries in the midst of conflict.

His Easter message was centered on the hope of long-term peace in Gaza and Ukraine.

Despite suffering from double pneumonia and hospital confinement, Pope Francis never forgot to show gratitude to his supporters who prayed for him and the doctors and nurses who took care of him at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

Before his death, Pope Francis made a public appearance on Palm Sunday. He also visited one of the most congested detention centers in Rome last Maundy Thursday.

There were instances when Pope Francis had difficulty breathing. A part of his lung was remove in his younger days.

In 2021, his colon was removed due to diverticulitis, or enlargement of his large intestine, while in 2023, Pope Francis underwent surgery due to a health condition that caused pain in his hip, back, and knee.

Double pneumonia has been considered the most serious health crisis that the pope experienced in his 12 years of papacy.

On April 21, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had passed away at his residence in Casa Santa Marta.

In 2023, Pope Francis said he wanted his remains to be in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, which is close to his heart because of his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

He would be the first pope to rest outside the Vatican in more than a century.
—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News