Mass was also conducted at the DZR Airport
TACLOBAN CITY – A tribute mass for the late Pope Francis was offered by the Archdiocese of Palo at the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral on Saturday, April 26, presided over by Archbishop John Du.
In his homily, Archbishop Du recalled the Holy Father’s historic visit to the Archdiocese on January 17, 2015, a little over a year after Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name: Haiyan) devastated much of Eastern Visayas, particularly this city.
“When we were suffering because of Yolanda, he came—though a bit late—but he was with us,” Archbishop Du said, reminiscing about the papal visit that coincided with the onslaught of Typhoon ‘Amang’, which prompted Pagasa to raise Signal No. 2 over Tacloban and Palo.
Despite the heavy rains, thousands of pilgrims from various parishes across the region braved the weather to gather at the Tacloban DZR Airport for the mass celebrated by Pope Francis. The faithful, many still reeling from Yolanda’s devastation, found strength and comfort in the Pope’s presence.
Following the mass at the airport tarmac, Pope Francis visited the Archbishop’s Palace where he dined with selected survivors of Yolanda and the Bohol earthquake. He later met with local government officials and Church leaders at the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral.
Among the attendees at Saturday’s tribute mass was Khombe Amado, 22, from Kananga, Leyte.
Amado, who was only 12 years old during the 2015 visit, vividly remembered the hope Pope Francis brought to the people.
“He gave us hope, and to all the people of Leyte,” Amado said, expressing his sadness upon learning of the Pope’s passing.
After the tribute mass, Church officials announced that memorabilia gifted by Pope Francis to the Archdiocese would be displayed at the altar.
These include a replica of the Infant Jesus used during Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican, brought by then Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Most Reverend Giuseppe Pinto, who celebrated the Midnight Mass at the roofless Palo Cathedral on December 24, 2013; a replica of the venerated Marian icon, Madonna del Popolo (Our Lady of the People), whose original is enshrined at the Pauline Chapel in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome—now the final resting place of Pope Francis; the chalice used by Pope Francis during the mass at DZR Airport; and the tableware he used during his meal with Yolanda and Bohol earthquake survivors at the Archbishop’s Palace.
The Archdiocese of Palo invites the faithful to visit the cathedral and reflect on the life and legacy of the late Holy Father, whose compassion touched the hearts of many across Leyte and beyond.
Meanwhile, in Tacloban City, another mass was also held at the new DZR Airport tarmac—the same location where Pope Francis celebrated mass with thousands of pilgrims despite the heavy rain brought by Typhoon ‘Amang’ a decade ago.
Among those who attended were House Speaker and Leyte First District Representative Martin Romualdez and Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone.
In a brief interview, Romualdez shared that although the papal visit happened 10 years ago, its impact remains deeply felt by the people of Tacloban and other areas devastated by Yolanda.
“He did not abandon us; he stood here and was with us. Let us not lose hope and trust in God,” Romualdez said
Miguel, 38, a worker at the ongoing DZR Airport rehabilitation project who declined to give his full name, said he was simply grateful to join the mass.
“I am just happy to be here even though I was not able to see him when he came,” he said.
According to Miguel, they were temporarily asked to halt construction work while the mass was being held.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
