Kapamilya singer-actor Darren Espanto took a heartfelt trip down memory lane as he honored the late Pope Francis with a touching tribute on social media, recalling the unforgettable moment he sang for the pontiff during his 2015 visit to the Philippines.
In an Instagram post shared on Monday, April 21, Darren posted a clip from the ‘Encounter with the Youth’ held at the University of Santo Tomas on January 18, 2015. The video shows the young singer performing the official theme song of World Youth Day 1995, ‘Tell the World of His Love,’ while Pope Francis stood on stage surrounded by children.
“10 years ago, I had the privilege of singing for Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines,” Darren captioned. “It was an honor to be chosen to sing for such a historical event. He’s made a huge impact on lives around the world. May he rest in peace.”
View this post on Instagram
In a previous interview with Rappler, Darren expressed how deeply meaningful the experience was for him: “It’s an honor to sing for the Pope, because singing for the Pope is like singing for God. It’s truly an experience that I will treasure.”
Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. A Vatican statement delivered by Cardinal Kevin Farrell confirmed the pontiff’s passing at 7:35 a.m. Rome time due to a stroke, followed by coma and irreversible cardiovascular collapse.
“This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” Farrell said. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, made his historic apostolic visit to the Philippines from January 15 to 19, 2015. His itinerary included a stop in Tacloban, Leyte, where he led a Mass for the survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
