Prayers pour out in Tacloban, Palo as Pope Francis laid to rest

The skull cap and the utensils used by the late Pope Francis were displayed at the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral on Saturday as the world bid goodbye to the beloved Pontiff. The relics were used by Francis during his Jan.17, 2015 visit to Tacloban and Palo, Leyte. —Photo courtesy of Plao Metropolitan Cathedral

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines – Masses for the eternal repose of Pope Francis were held on Saturday, April 26, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Palo and at the Tacloban Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport, two places visited by the late Pontiff on Jan. 17, 2015.

Archbishop John Du of the Archdiocese of Palo led the Requiem Mass at the Palo Cathedral at noon.

It was attended by priests and lay people.

According to Du, Pope Francis’ visit brought hope and encouragement to the survivors, reaffirming the resilience of the community in the face of adversity.

Several mementos associated with his visit were put on display at the Palo Cathedral.

READ: Francis’ funeral to be grand farewell to ‘pope of the poor’

Among them were the utensils and plate he used during his lunch with selected survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Rai).

In Tacloban, a Mass was also held at the new DZR airport tarmac where Pope Francis celebrated a Eucharistic celebration attended by thousands of pilgrims, despite the heavy rain brought on by Typhoon Amang that day.

Among those who attended the Mass were House Speaker and Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez and Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone.

In a brief interview, Romualdez said the visit of the late Pontiff may have happened 12 year ago, but his presence has impacted the people of Tacloban and those who came from areas affected by Yolanda.

Since the announcement of Pope Francis’ passing, churches under the Archdiocese of Palo and its suffragan dioceses have been offering Mass intentions for the late pontiff.

These special prayers will continue for at least nine days.

Fr. Chris Militante, communication officer for the Palo Archdiocese, said intentions for the pope’s eternal repose is being observed in parishes across the region.