With the passing of Pope Francis, the world has been reflecting on the remarkable ways the late pontiff touched lives across different cultures, religions, and nations. From global leaders to ordinary faithful, stories of his humility, compassion, and personal connection continue to emerge. Among these tributes is a unique story that blossomed far from Rome — that of an Italian businessman based in the Philippines who, for over a decade, faithfully sent the Pope bottles of fine Italian wine and, in return, received letters of gratitude delivered through official Vatican channels.
This man is Emilio Mina, now 90 years old, who, from his home in the Philippines, made it a yearly tradition to send Pope Francis a special wine from Piedmont, a region in northern Italy where the pontiff’s father was born before emigrating to Argentina in 1929. Although Mina never met Pope Francis in person, his regular visits to Vatican City over the years allowed him to foster close relationships within its inner circles, giving him the rare opportunity to have his gifts personally delivered to the Pope.