ILOILO City – Sonia Cadornigara, regional coordinator of the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines, Inc. (HPFI) for Iloilo City, will always cherish the rare privilege of embracing and not just holding the hand of Pope Francis, as well as meeting him not just once but twice.
Cadornigara was among the 40 chosen community leaders worldwide to meet with the Holy Father during the Global Meeting of Popular Leaders on Oct. 27 to 29, 2014, just over a year after he was elected pope in 2013.
In an interview on Wednesday, April 23, Cadornigara said Pope Francis, who was an advocate for land, housing and fair labor, reached out to community leaders after he was elected as the overall leader of the Catholic Church.
She said the Vatican communicated with her through the Slums Dwellers International (SDI) secretariat, as HPFI is affiliated with SDI, which has membership in 33 countries.
“It is related to our work. He looked for us after he was elected pope,” Cadornigara shared in Hiligaynon.
She said there were two of them from the Philippines who joined the around 40 community leaders who met with Pope Francis for almost half a day on the third day of the gathering.
“You can really feel his aura the moment he entered the room. It feels like he is radiating,” Cadornigara said.
After their meeting, they were asked to fall in line to shake hands with the Holy Father. Even before her turn, Cadornigara said she was already crying.
Cadornigara said she could not explain how she felt, especially when Pope Francis looked her in the eyes. She said when she told the Pope that she is from the Philippines, he acknowledged it by squeezing her hand. Despite strict protocols, she ended up hugging him.
“He gave us a rosary. It was an intimate encounter because we were only around 40,” she said of their first encounter.
Cadornigara’s second encounter with Pope Francis was in 2015, though this time it was a large group of about 200 delegates from various countries. She said she touched the vestment of Pope Francis when he came to shake hands with the delegates.
Cadornigara said her two encounters with Pope Francis inspired her, noting his soft spot for the oppressed.
“He told us to continue because he knew our struggles, our hardships. He affirmed to us that he knew what we felt and he will continue to pray for us to reach whatever it is that we wanted to achieve in terms of housing, land and labor,” she said.
The meeting, she added, also strengthened her faith in God.
“I may forget the years and dates, but I could not forget the encounter with him. It has renewed our inspiration to serve,” Cadornigara said, adding that as a community leader, she has a lot of frustrations.
Cadornigara silently cried upon knowing of the demise of Pope Francis. Like the rest of the world, she will be watching when he will be interred into his resting place.
Her picture with the pope will also occupy a space in her house. Printed on canvas the size of a 40-inch television, it will serve as a reminder for her grandchildren and grand-grandchildren that once upon a time, their grandmother held the hand of a pope and listened to his message, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. (PNA)
