TACLOBAN CITY – For many residents of Leyte, the passing of Pope Francis on April 21 stirred deep memories of his historic 2015 visit—a moment that brought healing and hope to a province still reeling from the devastation of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’
Among them is 12-year-old Jullian Jeanars Aya-ay, who, as a toddler, was blessed and cradled by the Pontiff during his unannounced stop in Barangay 86, San Jose, one of the areas hardest hit by the 2013 disaster. Though Jeanars has no memory of the encounter, its significance has never been lost on him.
“I don’t remember that day, but when I learned he passed away, I felt really sad,” he said in an interview at his aunt’s home in San Jose.
On that stormy January 17, 2015, Pope Francis—dressed in a yellow poncho and braving another typhoon, ‘Amang’—held a deeply emotional Mass at Tacloban Airport attended by over 200,000 people. On his way to Palo, he made an unscheduled stop at the Aya-ay family’s roadside house, blessing the family, holding young Jeanars, and giving them rosaries.
(Cecile Acebedo)
Both of Jeanars’ parents have since passed away. He and his siblings—Jayson Jay, 22; John Mark, 20; and Francheska, 9—now live with relatives in Ridgeview Village, a Yolanda relocation site.
Jeanars, who recently graduated from elementary school, said he hopes to finish his studies in honor of the special moment with the Pope.
Eldest brother Jayson Jay, now working while completing college, vividly recalls the encounter. “It was an experience of a lifetime. I offered a silent prayer when I heard the news of his passing.”
Their youngest sister Francheska, born seven months after the papal visit and named in honor of the Pope, said: “I feel blessed to be named after him. But I’m also sad that he’s gone.”
Their aunt, Jenita Aguilar, 54, described the Pope’s visit as life-changing. “I feel truly blessed to have seen him—not just once, but twice,” she said tearfully. Aguilar also saw the Pope in 2018 during the World Meeting of Families in Ireland, thanks to an invitation from a humanitarian group.
She keeps the rosary given by Pope Francis on her altar and credits his spiritual presence for helping her cope with the loss of her son, who went missing during Yolanda.
‘More than just a visit’
Cecile Acebedo, 48, of Palo, had the rare privilege of sharing a meal with Pope Francis at the Archbishop’s Palace during his visit. “It’s not every day you meet a Pope, much less share a table with him,” she said.
Acebedo, who lost her mother in Yolanda, recalled that she could barely eat during the lunch. “We were in disbelief. I remember he had malunggay-flavored soup. When it was my turn to speak, I thanked him in Italian. He smiled at me.”
Instead of asking for personal favors, she prayed for healing and her family’s future. Her sister, whom she prayed for that day, later passed her overseas employment exam and now works in Rome—fulfilling a dream once held by their late mother.
Everyday encounters, lasting memories
Even those who only caught a glimpse of the Pontiff during his visit cherish the experience.
Marilyn Ecap, 54, said she prayed for her son’s success in the engineering board exams. “He’s now a licensed engineer,” she said proudly.
Corazon Palanas, 53, also from San Jose and now in Ridgeview Village, recalled how she unexpectedly cried when she saw the Pope. “I don’t know why, but I cried—and yet I felt peace.”
Fr. Chris Militante, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Palo, said the archdiocese is encouraging the faithful to offer prayers for the late Pontiff. Militante, who welcomed the Pope during his 2015 visit, remembered his humility. “He was soaking wet but smiling, even cracking jokes.”
The Vatican, through Pope Francis’s initiatives, helped rebuild over 30 churches in the region, including the Palo Cathedral. One of the Pope’s enduring legacies is the Pope Francis Home for Orphans and the Elderly, established in 2015 and run by the Korean missionary group Kkottongnae.
According to Sister James Montalban, the facility’s administrative secretary, over 150 residents, mostly Yolanda survivors, have received shelter and care. “Today, we serve 52 families who continue to need help,” she said, adding that a novena was offered for the Pope’s soul immediately upon confirmation of his death.
Mourning a Friend and Spiritual Father
For those who met him—or simply saw him pass by—Pope Francis’s visit remains a powerful symbol of hope, solidarity, and healing. In the words of Jenita Aguilar, “He helped us move forward. He reminded us that we were not forgotten.”
