Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David leads a requiem Mass for the late Pope Francis at the San Roque Cathedral on April 22, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA -- “A man of peace”— just like how Pope Francis was. 

For Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, it is important for the next Supreme Pontiff to be able to continue the impactful leadership that Pope Francis left behind. 

“Kasi ang title ng Santo Papa ay Pontifex Maximus and that is a Latin term for the Supreme bridge builder, ang dakilang tagapag-ugnay… Ipagdasal niyo na ang mahalal na bagong Santo Papa will be a man of peace, a man who will really be a good symbol for the whole world about that common aspiration natin for a better world, for a more peaceful world, for a common world,” said the Cardinal from the Diocese of Caloocan.

Up to his last days on earth, the late Holy Father had been a bold voice for peace, calling for an end to wars in Gaza and Ukraine because he believed that “war is a defeat for humanity.”

According to the Vatican, Pope Francis continuously offered to mediate for peaceful dialogues. This came into fruition before his funeral mass, when US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky had the opportunity to speak in a “very productive” dialogue.

“Sabi ko tignan mo naman si Pope Francis hanggang sa kamatayan he brings people together and people are amazed by that,” Cardinal Ambo said.

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David will join fellow Filipinos Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery of Evangelization, and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula in the upcoming papal elections known as the conclave. This would mark a historic first for three Filipino cardinals’ participating in the ancient tradition, which has an age requirement of below 80 years old. Thus, former Archbishop of Cotabato, Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, who is also currently in Rome, will no longer take part in the conclave because he is already 86 years old.

The Roman Catholic Church remains in mourning, a 9-day period called “Novemdiales” which officially started during the funeral mass of Pope Francis last April 26 Saturday and will end on May 4 Sunday.

Meanwhile, pre-conclave meetings between cardinals are ongoing.

“Yung pre-conclave s'yempre that’s going to be an open discussion among us. Walang kampanya-kampanya. It’s really what yung how we perceive the situation of the Church, ano ang mga present challenges, ano ang ine-expect namin sa magiging bagong Santo Papa… Dun sa actual conclave ikukulong na kami talaga,” said Cardinal Ambo.

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The Cardinal admits that he has someone in mind whom he believes will make a good pope. Nonetheless, he continues his task to research on every cardinal and to pray that he will make a good decision.

“Syempre meron na kong, you know, more or less, more or less na ano, napupusuan pero yun nga, ito bang napupusuan ko ito din ba ang ibig mangyari ng Panginoon?…To be Catholic is to be truly inclusive, to be Catholic is to believe that God desires the salvation of all humankind, of all creation. Kaya napaka-halaga na mag-reach out talaga, maging outgoing. Kaya laging bukang bibig noon ni Pope Francis hindi tayo dapat self referential, inward looking na concerned lamang about our Churchly affairs, parang natural lang sa Church to be concerned about the daily concerns of the world. We should be involved ang sabi niya, with the world,” Cardinal David explained.

Many have said that the next pope will have huge shoes to fill as the world saw the outpouring of love for the late Pope throughout his funeral and the last journey to his resting place.

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“Alam mo naman na kung minsan, there are some Church figures na sinusubmit for canonization or beatification, kasi ramdam mo na mga banal sila. Eto parang you don’t even have to do it, the people are already doing it eh. Parang yung hatak kay Pope Francis is because ramdam talaga nila yung kabanalan niya…I’m praying for that (for him to become a saint),” the Cardinal said in reflection.

Cardinal Ambo explained that Pope Francis was unlike many popes. He looked back on how the Pope offered to bless him when the Pope found out that he was receiving death threats due to his critical stance on the bloody drug war of the Duterte administration -- an act that Cardinal Ambo reciprocated during the Holy Father’s funeral.

“Talagang natunaw ang puso ko. Can you imagine the Pope asking to bless you? Ibig sabihin ganyan siya ka-concerned… Nung dumadaan na si Pope Francis, parang bigla kong naalala nung i-pray over niya ako, and sabi ko parang almost spontaneously tumaas yung kamay kong ganyan prinay over ko siya. At ang sabi ko eternal rest granted to him oh Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace and made the sign of the cross. It was really moving and nakita ko most of the cardinals were teary eyed,” the Cardinal shared.

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Cardinal Ambo also shared how the late Pope loved his nickname “Lolo Kiko.”

“He never forgot na ang tawag sa kanya Lolo Kiko. Ipinagmamalaki niya yon, sa tuwing may dumalaw na Pilipino sa kanya, sasabihin niya agad oh you know when I visited the Philippines they called me Lolo Kiko,” the Cardinal said.

According to Cardinal Ambo, the late Pope has a soft heart for Filipinos, whom he calls “smugglers of faith.”

“Bago pa siya dumalaw sa Philippines marami na siyang encounter with Filipinos. You need to remember, Filipinos are anywhere in the world because of OFWs…yun lang ikaw ang magte-take care ng mga kids nila at elderly that’s already power. Kaya mas malakas ang moral influence nila sa mga families. At kaya sabi ni Pope Francis you are evangelizing that way, kasi nagiging image of caring ang mga Pilipino…Kaya sila tinawag na smugglers of the faith ni Pope Francis, kaya mahal ni Pope Francis ang mga Pilipino,” the Cardinal explained.

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