PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos left for the Vatican City last night to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, Malacañang said.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said he, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III will head the caretaker committee while the President is abroad.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said details of the President’s trip, including whether the Marcoses will have other official engagements while abroad and when they will return, will be released once available.
The President on Wednesday declared a period of national mourning over the pope’s passing, from April 23 until the funeral on April 26.
Marcos has said the pope has a special place in the hearts of Filipinos particularly because of his visit to the Philippines in January 2015 when he offered comfort to h victims of typhoon “Yolanda.”
Francis has appointed more than half – 45 of 86 — active Filipino bishops in his 12-year stint as leader of the l Catholic Church, according CBCP News, the official news agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
“His first appointee was Bishop Narciso Abellana of Romblon in October 2013, just six months after his election to the papacy,” said CBCP News.
“His most recent Filipino appointment was Msgr. Glenn Corsiga of the Diocese of Dumaguete, who was named bishop of Ipil on April 14 or one week before the pope’s death,” it added.
CBCP News also noted that Francis was responsible for elevating 12 Filipino bishops to the rank of archbishop. They are Angelito Lampon of Cotabato, Martin Jumoad (Ozamis), Florentino Lavarias (San Fernando, Pampanga), Marlo Peralta (Nueva Segovia), Ricardo Baccay (Tuguegarao), Gilbert Garcera (Lipa), Julius Tonel (Zamboanga), Jose Cabantan (Cagayan de Oro), Jose Advincula (Manila) Victor Bendico (Capiz), Rex Andrew Alarcon (Caceres), and Midyphil Billones of Jaro.
It was also Pope Francis, who elevated three Filipino prelates to the College of Cardinals. They are Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, Jose Advincula of Manila, and Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan.
Under Francis’ papacy, the Diocese of Prosperidad was created in Agusan del Sur in October 2024, to become the country’s 87th diocese.
