Not sour graping. Filipinos welcome Pope Leo XIV: Evangelize, build bridges, include all
By Marivir Montebon
New York-based student and Doctor of Physical Therapy Thomas John Castanares was elated to have an Augustinian Pope. He had been actively serving as a lay minister for the Augustinian Church in his hometown Cebu City. The Cebu Augustinian congregation has been at one point in touch with Cardinal Robert Prevost now Pope Leo XIV when he served as its Prior General. He was happy to have a “familiar Pope.”
Castanares, as a young sacristan, with then Cardinal Robert Prevost, in Cebu, Philippines sometime in 2010. (Photo from the archives of the Sto. Nino de Cebu Basilica).
“I was very happy to see a familiar face being elevated as the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Familiar because I had the chance of seeing him in person, and have attended (probably served, I could not remember) the Mass he presided when he visited the Basilica del Santo Niño, Cebu Philippines in 2010. He was then the Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine.
But also, figuratively and emotionally familiar because of his Augustinian spirit when he went out of the balcony. When he proudly said that he is a son of Augustine, I felt drawn to where he was standing despite being miles away - the sense of being home.
Cardinal Robert Prevost with Augustinian priests in Cebu. L-R: Frs. Berdon, Durmeindo, Pido, Echivarria and Mesina. (Photo from Augustiniansphilippines.net)
As a lay collaborator of the Augustinians, especially to the Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu Philippines, being an Augustinian Vocation Promoter and an altar server (Knights of Santo Niño) of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, I am a witness and one who has always been attracted of the Augustinian values, especially that of interiority and community life.
His words - building bridges and continuing the synodality that Francis has always been at the core of their spirituality, their strong foundation as Augustinians - being community builders. Therefore, I am hopeful of his shepherding that would open wider the doors of the Catholic Church in today’s world with full fidelity to the Gospel.
I was indeed happy to see and feel a familiar Pope. Prayers to you, Pope Leo XIV!,” said Castanares who is also a balladeer by profession.
Ledy Almadin, executive director of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, was rooting for Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to be the next Pope. “As a Filipino, I was hoping he was the one. But it’s God’s will.”
Almadin, a devout Catholic in New Jersey, said, “I don’t have expectations, but I have hope that Pope Leo will fulfill what every Catholic and Christian are called for, to evangelize Jesus’ teachings and that is to love God above all and to love our brothers and sisters as much Jesus loves us. At his new position in the church, he has great influence to set a great example on how to do it.”
Cardinal Tagle and Cardinal Prevost before the 2025 Conclave that elected the latter to become the 267th Bishop of Rome and leader of the church of St. Peter Pope Leo XIV.
In Manila, Chi Villado said she’s not disappointed that Cardinal Luis Tagle was not elected pope, but her excitement was up leading to the papal conclave. Villado is the executive director of Philippine NGO Council Population, Health, and Welfare, Inc.
“I am not disappointed, but I got excited at the thought that someone we know could become the next Pope,” she said.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle happily obliged to be a replacement godfather to Maoi Villado upon the request of his friend, the late Linda Relova. (Photo from Chi Villado)
Villado said that Cardinal Tagle was a close friend of the late Linda Relova who’s the first cousin of her husband Zaldy.
“Cardinal Tagle has joined a few of our family gatherings. We’re all from Cavite. He officiated the Confirmation ceremony at my daughter Maoi's school in San Sebastian and here (in the picture) he is with my daughter when he became her accidental godfather during her Confirmation ceremony. Maoi’s godmother was Ate Linda who asked the Cardinal to be the replacement (as the original godfather arrived late) and her partner for the ceremony. Cardinal Tagle happily obliged.
When Ate Linda passed away due to cancer, he gave a touching and funny tribute. He said that Ate Linda would always go with him to his many speaking engagements and would complain that he kept saying the same sermon when the only one who knew that was her because she was with him on these many occasions.
I think Ate Linda would be so thrilled and happy if she was still with us. But now she is watching from heaven all the events that are happening now for her friend.”
Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago, Illinois and has served as a pastor and minister for the Augustinian Order mostly for Latin America. He was considered a dark horse in the Conclave, considering he has been Cardinal for only two years. Meanwhile, the Philippines’ Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, had been popularly touted to succeed Francis. Pope Leo XIV is known for his humble lifestyle and constancy in social justice and global peace. #
