The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) joins the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis—a champion of workers and the shepherd of the poor in this age of inequality—who fearlessly declared that “there is no true freedom for workers without a union,” who recognized the dignity of migrant workers “contribute a great deal to society and should be guaranteed a fair wage,” and who reminded us all that “as long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems.” “Pope Francis will be forever remembered as the Workers’ Pope. He fearlessly fought against the modern slavery of forced labor and the growing plague of precarious work. He marched with workers everywhere in our struggle for dignity in life and at work. His unflinching courage to condemn greed and injustice and his unwavering compassion for the last, the lost, and the least among us, live on in every call for higher wages, labor rights, and decent work,” stated TUCP President and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza (TUCP Party-list). Pope Francis, fondly called ‘Lolo Kiko’ by Filipinos, made a historic visit to the Philippines in 2015 to stand in solidarity with a nation reeling from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda, Typhoon Ruby, and the Bohol earthquake. “In one of our nation’s darkest chapters, Pope Francis exemplified mercy and compassion by bringing not just the authority of the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church but the tenderness of a grandfather whose shared humanity and healing presence inspired us to recover and rebuild as a stronger and kinder nation and people,” underscored Mendoza. In honor of his life, legacy, and love for the Filipino people, the TUCP appeals to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos, Jr. to declare a period of national mourning and order all Philippine flags nationwide to be flown at half-staff. “National mourning is a solemn fitting tribute from a grateful Filipino people to a Pope who, in the face of our greatest storms, walked humbly beside us—especially with workers, the poor, and the forgotten. May the memory of Pope Francis continue to inspire our collective struggle for a more just, equitable, and humane world,” emphasized Mendoza.