Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco had the very rare special opportunity of speaking with the His Holiness, Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome.
Frasco knew the conversation was going to be short, sweet, and transcendent, so he told the Pope what felt was the most important thing that the latter should know about the Philippines.
"I took the opportunity to say a few words in Italian to His Holiness as I said, Buongiorno Santo Papa Francesco. Le Filippine ti amano, Santo Papa Francesco! (Good morning, Holy Pope Francis. The Philippines loves you, Holy Pope Francis.)," the ranking solon wrote on his Facebook Sunday, Nov. 13.
"He replied by saying, God bless you," Frasco said of the 85-year-old Pontiff.
The Cebuano, who is a deputy speaker in the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress: went on to reflect on his unforgettable exchange with the Pope.
"It was such a humbling and spiritual experience to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. In the brief moment that we met Pope Francis, his warmth and comforting presence filled my heart and soul with peace and contentment," he said.
The Philippines proudly refers to itself as the only Christian nation in Asia, with over 86 percent of its population being Roman Catholic. This explains the Filipinos' reverence to the Pope.
Frasco was accompanied to Rome by his wife, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco.