The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines ' Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (CBCP-ECPPC) has called on the faithful to offer prayers for the peaceful repose of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025.
In a heartfelt appeal, Military Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio, chairman of the CBCP-ECPPC, urged members of the correctional community —persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), their families, former inmates, correctional personnel, chaplains, and volunteers — to pray for the late pontiff’s soul and the continuation of the reformative spirit he inspired.
“Since the start of his papacy in 2013, Pope Francis has consistently shown God’s mercy and compassion to the least, the last, and the lost,” Florencio said. “His visits to prisons every Holy Thursday — washing the feet of male and female prisoners, including those of other faiths — embodied Christ’s message of forgiveness and second chances.”
Even while recovering from illness, Pope Francis remained committed to his mission. On April 17, 2025, he made what would be his final Holy Thursday visit to a prison in Rome, continuing his outreach to PDLs during Holy Week.
The CBCP-ECPPC also recalled Francis’ firm stand against capital punishment. In 2015, he spoke before the U.S. Congress, calling for the abolition of the death penalty. In 2018, he declared it “inadmissible in all instances,” urging global Church leaders to advocate for its abolition.
Beyond this, the Pope also denounced life imprisonment, saying it strips human dignity and hinders the possibility of personal reform.
“His Holiness has deeply influenced bishops, priests, and lay volunteers to serve with compassion,” Florencio added. “He lived the Gospel message in both word and deed — inspiring the Church to reach out to those behind bars and offer them the light of hope and renewal.”
As the correctional pastoral community mourns the passing of Pope Francis, they also commit to honoring his memory by continuing the mission of mercy he so powerfully embodied.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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