Marcos, First Lady recall 'humble' Pope Francis; reminisce memories in Italy

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos arrived in Rome Friday to attend the funeral of Pope Francis scheduled on April 26, 2025.

In an exclusive report by Vicky Morales on "Saksi," the First Couple spent some time in the open public space Piazza Navona hours before the funeral and reminisced about their wedding.

The First Couple tied the knot on April 17, 1993 at the San Francesco Convent in Fiesole, Italy.

They said Pope Francis showed the Filipinos kindness and compassion following his 2015 visit to Manila and Tacloban, which was hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

“When I met him, he [was] humble and kind, and you feel like you’re blessed by God,” said the First Lady.

Meanwhile, Filipinos joined the tens of thousands of people who flocked to the Vatican Friday for a last glimpse of Pope Francis' open coffin, as world leaders and other guests began arriving for his funeral.

The wooden coffin, in which the pope lies wearing a red chasuble, white mitre and black shoes, with a rosary laced around his fingers, will be closed in a private ceremony at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT).

More than 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs are expected to attend Saturday's funeral, alongside around 200,000 mourners. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News