BY virtue of a declaration made by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. of a ‘Period of National Mourning’ from April 24 up to April 26, 2025 in connection with the passing of Pope Francis, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna enjoined all government offices in Manila, including Manila LGU offices and barangays, to fly the Philippine flag at half-mast during the said period.
Lacuna said that at the Manila City Hall, a special flag ceremony will be held on Saturday to raise the Philippine flag at half-mast in the morning and then lower it at sunset in the afternoon of the same day.
According to Lacuna, while President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos attend the funeral rites for Pope Francis, Manila joins them and our Filipino cardinals in fervent prayer.
The mayor said: “We pray for our beloved Pope Francis, who followed the will of God. Until just before the end, he called for peace in Gaza. He was still with us on Easter Sunday.”
“We in Manila will forever have our cherished memories of his papal visit and his audience with the youth at my alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas. May God grant the world a new pope who will carry the Catholic Church, Christianity and the world forward in faith, hope and love, as Pope Francis has done.” she added.
The Vatican announced on Monday the passing of Pope Francis at age 88 due to stroke and heart failure, following a bout with bilateral pneumonia.
His funeral service will be held in St. Peter’s Square, in the shadow of the Basilican on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m., Vatican time.
