Will Lolo Kiko’s Kind of Leadership Outlive Him?

The late Pope Francis is remembered for his legacy as the epitome of what most envision when we speak of a kind leader with ears that listen and hands outstretched into a welcoming palm instead of a fist. 

Layout & Graphic Artist: Justine Ceniza

To love is to include

Dark clouds and occasional rain showers became the welcoming entourage for the late pope upon his arrival in the country. Despite the gloomy weather, he kept a wide smile to the sea of faithful. 

His dedication to visit the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in his 2015 Papal visit in the Philippines marked the kind of leadership that he believed in—one that highlighted inclusion. 

"We are all children of God," he famously remarked, and this statement was not an empty nor selective statement, as we most often hear as a weaponized way to force people to conform to leaders’ interpretation of the Bible.

By saying ‘all’ he meant that everyone is within the mercy and subject of God’s love, Lolo Kiko encouraged love and acceptance toward the queer community and other minority groups often treated differently. 

His persistent mention of ‘welcome’ and ‘inclusion’ redefined how the Church spoke of love because if its head, like Pope Francis, is open to include everyone, then we must be heading toward the age of a more inclusive faith without prejudice.

To preach is to lead by example

Beyond Lolo Kiko’s kind words is his consistent action to embrace where reform and awareness are needed. 

Being an advocate for the responsible and productive use of modernization, Pope Francis has been known to campaign for bridging the gap between faith and the sciences. 

Highlighting his willingness to discuss the very real topics of climate change is only one of the many stances that cemented his legacy of progressiveness. 

Aside from his inclusive values and belief in the sciences, he also paved to keep open discussion to listen and address cases of clergy sexual abuses. His openness to listen, re-evaluate his stances, and offer reformative solutions are actions that go beyond just talk but through meaningful examples. 

To live is to seek justice

He will be remembered for a lot of things he has done that people are inspired to similarly do but perhaps the late Pope is more than just an icon of kindness, for he also stood up courageously for justice. 

In his last public appearances for Easter Sunday 2025, Pope Francis spoke about an international crisis that many global leaders choose to ignore: he expressed that his thoughts were with the people of Gaza. 

In his frail hours, he remembered to call for a ceasefire. He took the time to visit victims of calamities, dialogue with LGBTQIA+ youth, empower divorced men and women, and call out for the victims of war–at some point, you will inevitably see why people, both Catholic and non-Catholic, saw the light he saw in everyone. 

As the Catholic church heads to embrace a new papal leadership, Lolo Kiko to us and Pope Francis to the world will always be remembered for both the impact he left and the revolutionary take he had on love and kindness that shows why leadership with a heart is always the best one.

Written by Sharona Nicole Semilla

Layout & Graphic Artist: Justine Ceniza