Filipinos recount personal encounters with Pope Leo XIV in the Philippines

MANILA, May 9 ------ Shortly after the announcement of the new Pope, several Filipinos recounted their personal encounters with Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. Prior to being Pope, the Cardinal has visited the Philippines several times—as Superior General of the Augustinian Order. 

Filipino Seminarian Aaron Ricardo Veloso recounted his personal encounter with Fr. Prevost during the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod. He said Filipinos got closer to Prevost as he spoke English. "Naaalala ko, umaga pagkatapos ng canonization sa St. Peter's Basilica, nagkaroon kami ng lunch sa Collegio Filipino sa Rome, isa sa dumating si Fr. Prevost pa noon," he said. 

Veloso recalled Prevost as a very soft-spoken and kind man. "Noong nagpakilala ako sino ako, na galing ako Pilipinas, bahagi ako ng komite sa canonization, nakwento niya na nakapunta na sya sa Pilipinas at kwento nya yung Santo Nino de Cebu," he said. "Ang nasabi niya noon na honor para sa Augustinians na naging part sila ng canonization ni Pedro Calungsod," Veloso added. 

At that time, Veloso did not even think that Prevost would eventually become Pope. "Very formal, maikli lang, naaasar ako sa sarili ko bat 'di ako nagpapicture sa kanya. Sino ba naman mag-aakala na secretary general, 'di pa naman sya cardinal noon," he said. 

Veloso said he added Prevost on social media and they would even exchange birthday greetings even when the latter has returned to Peru. "Maganda rin siguro makita, nakakatuwa, yung Papa ngayon is someone who knows the Philippines very well, as superior general," he said. "Very familiar siya sa Pilipinas and I'm looking forward paano siya mag-e-engage with Filipino Catholics in the Philippines," he added. 

Meanwhile, Augustinian priest Fr. Ricky Villar of the San Agustin Church and Museum also recounted that Prevost has visited them Philippines many times. "Never in my wildest dreams na makakapag-serve ako sa isang (magiging) Santo Papa," Villar said. "I was the master of ceremonies during the blessings of the Postulancy Building and Chapel in 2012, the inauguration and blessings of the Professorium Chapel in 2008, the opening and closing of the Augustinian Intermediate Chapter in 2012, and in all his masses during his pastoral and canonical visitations in Intramuros when he was our prior general (2001 to 2013)," Villar recounted. 

Prevost was elected as 267th Pontiff, and is now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV. 

Source: news.abs-cbn.com