Celebrating a life: PH media spotlight on Pope Francis and his legacy

HE IS the third, not the first pope, to travel to Asia’s largest Catholic country. But it is Pope Francis’ visit in 2015 that has left an indelible mark on the country’s public memory, perhaps, even on its history. 

The papal visits of Paul VI in 1970, and of John Paul II in 1981 and again in 1995 were all historic and dramatic. But the five days that the Holy Father spent among the flock in this country came at a time when the country was still reeling from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda, the worst typhoon on record. The people felt his presence as healing grace. The stormy weather on January 17, 2015 could not stop him from flying to Tacloban, Leyte, as scheduled, ignoring everyone’s advice to stay in Manila. He told Filipinos waiting there: “I am here to be with you. A little bit late, but I’m here.”  

The Philippines mourned the death of 88-year-old Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who took the name Francis when he became pope, on April 21, a day after Easter Sunday. The pontiff made his last public appearance on this significant celebration, delivering his last Urbi et Orbi message and apostolic blessing at St. Peter’s Square and surprising everyone with a last ride on the popemobile. 

Stricken with double pneumonia at 88, Pope Francis had been in hospital for over a month, eventually succumbing to a fatal stroke, slipping into a coma and “irreversible” heart failure. Vatican News cited those who were with him during his final hours, saying Pope Francis “did not suffer.”

Philippine media had just covered the solemnities during the Holy Week. On Easter Monday, TV and online news platforms proved themselves well-prepared to pay tribute to the pope who was well-loved across the world, by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. 

On the day of his death, local media provided footage provided by Filipino reporters from TV networks, but also presented his visit in 2015, an experience which recalled the intimacy and connection of Francis in his popemobile as it moved through the streets of the city, finding the individuals whose lives he touched with his embrace and his blessing, highlighting his legacy of love, service and sacrifice. 

Print quickly caught up the following day, April 22, collectively featuring Pope Francis, his life and death bannered on front pages.

CMFR looked at the coverage of three primetime newscasts (ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol, GMA-7’s 24 Oras, TV5’s Frontline Pilipinas); six Manila-based broadsheets (Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Daily Tribune, Manila Standard, The Manila Times) and their online counterparts; online sites Rappler, Vera Files and Bulatlat from April 21 to 28.

A unified tribute

The breaking news of his death was a top story for both print and TV.

Coverage across three news platforms uniformly started reports information about the cause and circumstances of Pope Francis’ death, followed with recollection of his pastoral life in Argentina before ascending to the papacy. 

Reports stressed his commitment to social justice and his focus and advocacy for the poor and those marginalized by society, including women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants, and indigenous peoples. Coverage also recalled his international missions, noting papal efforts to promote peace, his call for interfaith dialogue, and his advocacy for the environment and climate justice. 

News accounts also noted that his last message to the Vatican and to the world called for an end to violence in Gaza and in Ukraine. He appealed to the warring parties to “call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.”

Some headlines summarily reflected his image as pope: the Inquirer’s “Francis, 88: A legacy of reform, humility, inclusion” and Standard’s “Francis, People’s Pope, dies.” Reports did note that his progressive stance on social issues often clashed with the more conservative members of church, who often accused him of breaking away from tradition. But coverage was one in observing with admiration the simplicity with which Pope Francis lived, declining the grandeur that was afforded the papal office, a quality which endeared him to millions of people all over the world.

Reporting from Rome

Filipino correspondents from ABS-CBN, GMA-7 and TV5 deployed to the Vatican, as well as Europe-based stringers of these networks, captured the global outpouring of grief and respect for the late pontiff, noting the thousands that gathered in St. Peter’s Square hopeful for a glimpse of Francis before he was laid to rest. Coverage captured Filipinos in the midst of Catholics from other countries who readily indulged media interviews, sharing how Pope Francis inspired them and what kind of Church he left behind.

Reports from the field, delivered on TV live, typically included details of the funeral arrangements and rites, providing context on the significance of the ceremonies and how, once again, Pope Francis broke away from usual practices and traditional pomp. Citing his final wishes, media reported that he wanted to be buried in a simple wooden casket instead of the traditional three nested coffins made of cypress, lead and oak. Having shunned the traditional red papal shoes, Francis wore what he has always worn — his very own plain black shoes. He did not wish to be buried at Saint Peter’s Basilica where popes have been laid to rest. Instead, Pope Francis had written in his will his wish to be buried in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he would always “stop to pray at the beginning and end of every apostolic journey.” He requested for a simple tomb without ornamentation, only bearing the name “Franciscus.”

A nationwide tribute

Back home, news media documented the masses offered for Pope Francis across the country and sought reflections and testimonies both from the clergy and laypeople. TV in particular played to its audiovisual strength, retrieving footage from the historic 2015 papal visit and reaching out to those who had a close encounter with Pope Francis at the time. These sources included priests and nuns, artists and workers who offered to the pope their time and craft during the visit. TV found the children he interacted with, now in their early teens. Reports also interviewed journalists who were working at the time, among them, Lynda Jumilla who was covering for ABS-CBN. All together, their remembrance attested to Pope Francis as a pope for the people, a shepherd tending to those suffering, inspiring them to hold to hope for better days.

TV did not miss replaying the clip from the homily of Pope Francis in Manila Cathedral on January 16, 2015, during which he quoted Jesus Christ’s words from the gospel, “Do you love me?” Filipinos in attendance answered a resounding “Yes!” to which the pontiff replied, “Thank you very much!” and laughed.

Reports noted the official response of the government to declare a national period of mourning in the entire country following Pope Francis death. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was quoted in the news saying Pope Francis was “the best pope” in his lifetime.

Marcos flew to the Vatican with First Lady Liza Marcos to attend the final rites for Pope Francis on April 26. Coverage captured the presence of world leaders at the funeral, many of whom had already issued statements of sympathy.

The media was spot on the need of the Filipino audience to see all and experience as much the passage of Pope Francis, his life and his departure. Philippine media succeeded to leave a record of the pope in life and the papal legacy that would be cherished by Filipinos. Television did this as it honored His Holiness, in a memorial poignant with feeling and steadfast in faith. 

Pope Francis will be remembered as a religious and spiritual leader, set apart as a true shepherd of his flock—one who remembered and loved even those who were lost and those gone astray.

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