Cebuana remembers encounters with Pope

CEBU CITY — The world is mourning the death of Pope Francis but the passing of the well-loved pontiff cuts deeper for this Cebuana businesswoman.

- By CALVIN CORDOVA

As she grieves the death of the pope, Fe Mantuhac-Barino looked back at her close encounters with the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church who died last April 21 at the age of 88.

Barino said she had the chance to meet Francis thrice, encounters that she said shaped her life not just as a Catholic but as a staunch advocate to spread the word of God.

Her first encounter with the pope happened in 2015, where she was among the huge crowd when he visited typhoon “Yolanda” survivors in Tacloban City, Leyte.

Her second encounter with Pope Francis happened in Rome, Italy in 2017. The second meeting was a more meaningful one.

Barino said she was introduced to the pope with the help of Cebuano Vatican-based Monsignor Jan Thomas Limchua.