Pinoy Janitor in Vatican a Witness to Pope Francis’ Humility
Even though he works in the Vatican City, never in Florencio Ramos Jr.’s wildest dreams that he would personally meet and even chat with Pope Francis, considering his job as a janitor.
So he was surprised when, days following Typhoon Yolanda’s massive destruction in the Philippines in 2013, he and several others were called to clean the pontiff’s official residence.
“Kami ang naglilinis ng sasakyan niya, lalo na yung jeep niya,” recalled Ramos, who has been in Vatican for 12 years, in a report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” on Friday.
The report said Pope Francis, upon learning that Ramos was a Filipino, personally talked to him to offer a prayer for the Filipino people.
It was not the first time Ramos was face to face with a Pope. In 1992, he was also lucky to meet the late Pope John Paul II, with whom he and his son Jason, then an infant, had their picture taken.
Now, Jason is working for the Pope as a guard at the St. Peter’s Basilica.
“It’s a wonderful place,” Jason said in the report, referring to the world renowned Late Renaissance church.
With Pope Francis’ scheduled five-day visit to the Philippines, both Ramos and his son wish the Filipino people will be able to witness for themselves the Pope’s humility.
Pope Francis will be in the Philippines from January 15 to 19.