Cebuano businesswoman and chairperson of the Commission on the Laity of the Archdiocese of Cebu, Fe Barino, shared her personal encounter with the late Pope Francis she described to be influential in the growth of her spiritual perspective in life.

"Daw gibayaw siya sa langit (as though she was lifted to heavens)," she would describe the experience of her personal encounter with Pope Francis.

She said she was able to touch his hands as the pontiff would shake hands with the faithful in greeting, and that the experience did not happen once, but thrice.

The first time she met Pope Francis was during his visit to Tacloban City and the Municipality of Palô in the Province of Leyte after the said areas were hit severely by Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Barino was among thousands of Filipinos who waited for the arrival of Pope Francis and witnessed the sympathy of the Pope shown to the victims of one of the most devastating typhoons to hit the Philippines.

Religious activities pushed through despite the inclement weather during the papal visit, Barino recalled.

She said she was not able to get any closer to the pontiff but she has considered that moment an extraordinary experience.

However, on May 31, 2017, Barino met the Pope personally, and was able to touch his hands. The Pope said something to her that Barino said she did not catch, but that moment felt ethereal.

Her personal encounter with Pope Francis has fueled her passion to push further her advocacy on helping drug-dependent persons seek rehabilitation and reform through a program dubbed “Surrender to God.”

The third opportunity to meet personally and shake the Pope’s hands came on November 4, 2023. Barino said she was one of the leaders of the National Charismatic Renewal, and was chosen member of the International Service of Communion of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service (CHARIS).

Barino further said that she sees the Pope as a representative of God, and that she feels the holiness of the place where the Pope serves, whether in Vatican City or anywhere else in the world.