As the world grieves the passing of Pope Francis, a Palawan-based nonprofit organization, on Wednesday, April 23, paid tribute to his legacy and reaffirmed its mission to protect and empower young people through compassionate, rights-based health education.

“As we mourn the passing of a spiritual leader, we honor his memory by continuing to walk with young people—sharing knowledge, building trust, and helping them shape futures rooted in dignity and hope,” said Roots of Health in a statement.

Describing Pope Francis as “a leader of compassion, humility, and justice,” the organization highlighted the alignment between the Pope’s teachings and its work promoting youth reproductive health and rights.

“His leadership reminded us that faith is not about exclusion or fear, but about mercy, accompaniment, and the tireless pursuit of justice,” the group added.

Roots of Health, which has reached over 100,000 young people and trained more than 6,800 educators across the Philippines, stressed the importance of grounding its work in values deeply rooted in Catholic Social Teaching—particularly the inherent dignity of every human being and the moral responsibility to care for the vulnerable.

In a country where Catholic faith and tradition play a powerful role in public and private life, the organization acknowledged the tensions that can arise when discussing topics such as sex, contraception, and consent.

“In our work, we often encounter what seems like a delicate balance between upholding moral values and providing young people with the information they need to make responsible decisions,” the group noted.

Roots of Health recognized that some families have “understandable concerns” that discussions about topics like sex, contraception, or consent may not align with the values they wish to pass on to their children.

“However, we’ve found that when these conversations are approached with care, empathy, and a spirit of listening—all values Pope Francis espoused—providing young people with accurate, age-appropriate knowledge about their bodies, rights, and responsibilities can empower them to live out their values with confidence and integrity,” the group added.

Roots of Health also emphasized that these conversations, when handled with empathy and respect, can help young people live out their values with confidence and integrity.

“Pope Francis called us to go to the peripheries and to serve not with judgment, but with empathy,” the group said.

In the Philippines, where poverty and marginalization remain pressing concerns, Roots of Health believes it is both possible and necessary to “bridge moral conviction with evidence-based, compassionate care.”

The group also pledged to carry forward the Pope’s legacy by continuing to support youth with honest dialogue, trust, and care.

“These are not just health outcomes,” the organization said. “They are deeply moral actions rooted in love—for self, for others, and for the future,” Roots of Health added.