PH Embassy in Holy See prepares for Marcos’ arrival in Vatican

The Philippines Embassy to the Holy See is preparing for the arrival of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos who will attend the funeral of the late Pope Francis on Saturday.

According to GMA Integrated News anchor Vicky Morales’ report for Unang Balita, preparations are ongoing in front of the St. Peter Basilica in anticipation for the hundreds of world leaders who will join the funeral of Pope Francis.

Tents are already in place for the members of the media and the medical teams assigned for the event.

Stricter security is also implemented for the last day of viewing of Pope Francis’ remains.

In an interview with Vicky Morales, Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Myla Macahilig also shared his fond memories with Pope Francis.

“For me, personally, the most memorable would be the time that I presented my credentials to him as the Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See and this was in November of 2021,” Macahilig recalled.

“One thing for certain is you’d really feel he’s such a kindly gentleman, ‘yung tunay na lolo. That encounter in 2021 was a happy ocassion for me personally. It’s my first assignment as an ambassador. I have my family with me and Pope Francis was very kind and very generous in his time when we were presented to him,” she added.

Even the staff members of the Philippine Embassy in Vatican were elated in sharing the moment they shook the hand of the late Pope every time there was a diplomatic function in the Vatican.

On Monday, the Vatican announced the passing of Pope Francis. He was 88 and had a serious bout of double pneumonia. According to Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli in a death certificate, Pope Francis died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure.

Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis was elected Supreme Pontiff on March 13, 2013. He became the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the said position.

Pope Francis, fondly called Lolo Kiko by Filipinos, visited the Philippines in 2015.

He celebrated Mass at the Manila Cathedral as well as in the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas.

The Pontiff also held an outdoor Mass in Tacloban City despite strong rains and powerful winds brought about by an approaching storm.

In his will drafted in 2022, Pope Francis asked to be buried in a simple, unadorned tomb inside his beloved Roman basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore. It was this basilica where Pope Francis prayed before and after every trip he took as pontiff.

The funeral service for Pope Francis will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. Vatican time in St. Peter's Square, in the shadow of the Basilica.—Hana Bordey/AOL, GMA Integrated News