Veteran journalist Jose “Joe” Torres, Jr. shares one of his memorable moments with Pope Francis as one of the Filipino media representatives who joined the pontiff in his apostolic journey in Asia. (Photo courtesy of Joe Torres)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – For renowned journalist Jose A. Torres, Jr., covering activities of Pope Francis was not just an assignment but a deep personal journey.
In 2015, Torres was among the fourteen (14) Filipino media representatives who were given the opportunity to accompany the pontiff during his pastoral visits across Asia witnessing firsthand his remarkable ability to effortlessly blend the sacred with the secular, breaking the wall and creating a bridge between faith and everyday life.
Torres shared personal anecdotes about his interactions with Pope Francis, offering a glimpse into his remarkably human and approachable nature who openly engaged with people on a personal level.
“He was very friendly, very human. Walang ere, kumbaga, na tao. What I learned from him is ‘yung pagiging humble niya, pagiging normal niya na tao. He was also fun to be with, funny at ma-kwento,” Torres narrated, reflecting on one of his lifeworks with the Union of Catholic Asian News.
Torres recalled that Pope Francis’ key moment in his apostolic journey was when he visited the Philippines in January 2015 to offer comfort and spiritual support to communities affected by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda and celebrate the unwavering faith of the Filipino people.
Torres was also able to join the pope when he met with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and remembered how the pontiff chose to reach out to the communities and foster open dialogues than to engage in purely symbolic gestures.
“He went straight to the refugees,” Torres said, “telling the officials on stage, ‘I came here to meet with the refugees, not you.’”
“Noong una, akala ko strikto siya. Kala ko masyado siyang academician, pero kapag nakausap mo siya, tao siya na nakikipag-usap. Kinukumusta ka niya kung kumain ka ba, how’s your family, do you live in Manila, mga ganun na kwentuhan,” said Torres.
Sharing a personal connection with Pope Francis not only allowed Torres to report on the pontiff’s journey with greater insight but also to be deeply inspired by his example.
“I covered a lot of international figures—Dalai Lama, Jimmy Carter, mga presidente natin, pero yung kay Pope Francis ‘yung parang hindi coverage, para siyang pilgrimage. Hindi mo siya iniisip na trabaho because you long to see him everyday,” he said.
Torres also cited instances of conversions, recalling how the meaningful encounter with Pope Francis led a fellow journalist to return to the Catholic faith.
These encounters and the lessons learned left a lasting impression on him, ultimately shaping his understanding of leadership and service.
“Since I was in school, I have always been a writer. Then one day, I prayed for a different path,” he said, “and to my surprise, I received a call to work with the government.”
Following decades of dedicated service as a journalist, Torres took on a leadership role as the 21st Director-General of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in 2023 which enabled him to bring the principles he learned from Pope Francis, especially in terms of serving the people with humility.
To date, Torres is now serving as the Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), prioritizing initiatives that will cater to the welfare of Filipino journalists.
Beyond a change in title or position, he perceives this redirection as a significant challenge to make use of his power and influence for the greater good.
“I believe that we are challenged every day to test ourselves, to see if power or wealth will change who we are,” he stressed, noting that people should remain consistent with their true selves right to the end—just like Pope Francis.
Torres, along with countless Filipinos and people from other nations across the world, felt profound loss by the news of the Pope’s death.
“I prayed silently but I know in my heart and in my experience being with him that whatever happens, he would want us to go on in life,” he added.
The Vatican announced the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, a day after he delivered his final blessing on Easter Sunday.
As the world mourns the death of His Holiness, people continue to honor the memory of the pope for his transformative pontificate marked by humility, mercy, and commitment to global unity.
Before he was elected pope in 2013, Pope Francis was known to many as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He led the Catholic Church for 12 years. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
