As Catholics around the world offer prayers of healing for Pope Francis, a woman in Tacloban, and her family, whose lives were touched after a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the Holy Father during his visit to the city in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), is also in deep prayer for the Pope’s quick recovery.
Jeneta Aguilar, a resident of Pope Francis-SM Cares Village in Kawayan, Tacloban City, keeps an image of the Pope over their tiny home’s altar, together with the rosary beads that Pope Francis gave her and her family during that very awe-inspiring encounter with the Pontiff on January 17, 2015.
She said she has offered prayers for the Pope’s health after hearing news of his illness over the Internet.
Pope Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14 after struggling for several days with bronchitis.
He had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion, however, in later days, the Holy See Press Office indicated that the Pope’s condition was stable.
Home visit
Jeneta said that the experience she had with the Pope in 2015 still fills her with awe after having such a close encounter.
“Nalipay ako pero na starstruck gihapon ako ngan nagkinita nala ako ha iya,” Jeneta said. (I was happy but I also got starstruck, I only looked at him the whole time.)
She further shared that it was her family and four of her siblings with their children who were blessed by the Pope when he got out of the way and approached them lining up the streets under a heavy downpour.
One of her sisters, who was pregnant at that time, ended up giving birth to a girl and named her Francesca, in honor of the Pope.
Meanwhile, the one child that the Pope carried during that encounter, was Jeneta’s niece named Jaenarz, who is now 12 years old and is an elementary pupil.
Jeneta’s family now lives in a village named after Pope Francis, one of the housing projects constructed for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
With the rosary beads given to her by the Pope, Jeneta said his fast recovery and revival of health will continue to be in their prayers they offer nightly before going to bed.
Palo Archbishop John Du has assured that the faithful in the region are now offering prayers and Masses for Pope Francis' health.
"We remember how Pope Francis brought a profound sense of hope and solidarity to our communities affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan," Du said.
(With report from PIA Leyte)
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