The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the largest fellowship of mainline Protestant and non-Roman Catholic churches in the country, has joined the global community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis.
Described as a “Pilgrim of Hope” and “Pope of the Poor,” the NCCP paid tribute to his legacy of radical compassion, ecological justice, and inclusive solidarity.
In a statement released after the pontiff’s death on Easter Monday, the NCCP said it was “deeply profound” that Pope Francis, who authored Laudato Si’, died “a day after the celebration of the Resurrected Christ, and on the eve of Earth Day.”
“He stood with those who work tirelessly to protect the earth, recognizing that care for Creation is a moral and spiritual calling, a hope for the earth we desperately need,” the statement read.
The council also reflected on his witness to social justice, recalling his advocacy for migrants and refugees and his condemnation of economic systems that exploit workers and the poor.
“He fearlessly spoke against the exploitation of workers and farmers across the world and called for a global economy to prioritize dignity,” the NCCP said.
Pope Francis’ efforts for Christian unity and interfaith dialogue were also recognized. “Whenever we say ‘Our Father’, we feel an echo within us of our being sons and daughters, but also of our being brothers and sisters,” the Pope once said during a visit to the World Council of Churches.
The NCCP recalled this moment, alongside his 2015 meeting with local religious leaders, including former NCCP Chairperson The Most Rev. Ephraim Fajutagana, during his pastoral visit to the Philippines.
“His humility and openness have also given hope for continuing conversation for inclusivity,” the council added, citing ongoing struggles across faith traditions on issues of gender and social equality.
Also recently, the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum (EBF)—a fellowship of Protestant and Catholic bishops—issued a separate tribute.
“A shepherd of compassion, humility, and unwavering faith… Pope Francis spent his life at the service of others and to the message of love, mercy, and unity,” the EBF statement read.
Bishop Joseph G. Agpaoa of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, co-chairperson of the forum, described Pope Francis as “a voice of conscience, a beacon of hope, an unwavering defender of the downtrodden and dispossessed.”
Signed by bishops from multiple denominations, the EBF statement urged Filipinos to “internalize, live out, and embody the truly liberating aspects of the Pope’s life and teachings.”
In a further gesture of remembrance, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) offered a “Solidarity Prayer for the Passing of Pope Francis,” which read in part:
“Gracious and Merciful God, in this moment of deep sorrow and reflection, we stand together across nations, cultures and creeds, mourning and celebrating in the mystery of the life lived by Your servant, esteemed Pope Francis.
He led the lost, spoke for the voiceless, stood up for mercy, peace and justice.
… Console your Church and everyone who knew him. Empower those who carry forward his mission now. And give him eternal rest in Your presence, where pain is no more, and peace knows no end.”
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to assume the papacy, died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
The tributes from the NCCP, UCCP, and EBF emphasized a shared Christian hope in continuing his mission of justice, unity, and mercy. “We will carry on,” the NCCP concluded. “This is our hope.”
