In this issue

The love month is a special time to celebrate relationships. Even Lolo Kiko—whose concept of love extends not just to his family and friends, but also to everyone else in the
world—would agree. Which is why, for this month’s issue, we bring you heartwarming stories of how our dear Pope Francis expresses his love to everyone—regardless of whether they share the same values or not. Read about how he promotes respect and unity among all religions (page 20), the story behind his special chair that was meticulously crafted by Muslim artisans (page 24), and his historic visit to the Great Synagogue, a Jewish place of worship in Rome (page 42).

Speaking of love, peace, and unity, we also feature personalities who are the exact embodiments of these three words. Be inspired by the stories of florist Liezel Nicor, who unexpectedly found love for the art of arranging flowers (page 13); Patrick and Rachel Renucci, who left their life in Paris to support the farmers of typhoon-struck Leyte (page 16), and veteran actors Shamaine and Nonie Buencamino, who are using their love for theater arts to promote better understanding and acceptance toward those who are dealing with mental health issues (page 36).
Of course, this issue would not be complete without a few points for self-reflection to help you improve your relationships with others—and more importantly, with yourself. See how you can move forward and grow as a person with our “How to Break Up with Your Past Self ” article (page 46), learn healthy ways to address relationship issues with our “I Love You, But...” feature (page 26), and get to know your significant other on a much deeper level with our “Before You Do the ‘I Do’” story (page 14).
Together, let us celebrate relationships—always, in all ways!

My Pope Philippines Magazine Description:

My Pope Philippines is an adapted English version of Italian magazine, Il Mio Papa, dedicated entirely to Pope Francis. Every month, My Pope describes the life of the Holy Father, an emotional ride of meetings, words, and simple gestures of his daily life that highlight the important message of change that permeates his pontificate.
At least 65% of the content is international and 35% is created by the local editorial team in the Philippines to feature stories highlighting the encouraging developments in the lives of Filipinos, whose values and actions reflect those that the Pope stands for, with sections on good news, inspiring stories, traditions, arts and crafts and everyday heroes.