Malacañang officials admitted over the weekend that they were “super-overwhelmed” by the outpouring of adoration accorded by millions of Filipinos to the charismatic Pope Francis.
Malacañang Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Palace was “well pleased” with the efforts of the government and Church leaders involved in ensuring an almost glitch-free hosting of various events lined up for the pontiff.
The Palace, however, expressed deep regret for the single casualty— volunteer church worker Kristal May Pasadas, who died from head injuries after she was accidentally hit by a steel scaffolding felled by strong winds at the Palo Archdiocese in Tacloban, where the pope held Mass on Saturday.
But Lacierda reserved the highest praise for all the Filipino devotees who cooperated with the government and Church organizers tasked to coordinate proceedings at the always jam-packed papal events.
“The response of the people has been ‘super’-overwhelming, as indicated by the presence of the people on the road and in the events themselves,” Lacierda said in a text message to Palace reporters. “The Filipino people have truly shown to Pope Francis how much he is loved.”
On the eve of his departure from the Philippines, the pontiff met with local youth groups at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and celebrated Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Millions of Filipinos trooped to these events despite the rain brought about by Tropical Storm Amang.
In his meeting with young Filipinos on Sunday morning, Francis urged students and representatives of various youth groups “to think, to feel and to do.”
The pontiff said the youth is now inundated with so much information due to the access they enjoy through the Internet. However, the pontiff said the Church does not need “youth museums” who only store information, but “holy young people” who use their knowledge for the greater good.
During the pope’s meeting with young Filipinos, some representatives of the youth, including two former street children from Tulay ng Kabataan, with whom the pope met in secret before attending the meeting with families at the Mall of Asia Arena last Friday.
The children recounted their experience as street children and one child cried when she asked the pope why some children are abandoned by their parents.
Francis hugged the child then later on told young Filipinos that they should not hold back their tears. “Certain realities in life, we see only through eyes that are cleansed through our tears.”
The pontiff then lamented the fact that there were too few women representatives among the youth at the event.
“Women have much to tell us in today’s society. Sometimes we’re too ‘machistas’ and we don’t allow room for a woman. Women are capable of seeing things from [a] different angle, a different eye. Women are able to pose questions that we men are not able to understand,” the pope said. “When the next pope comes [to Manila], please [include] more girls, women, among the number.”
Prior to the pope’s meeting with the youth, he also met with religious leaders representing various religious sects at the UST’s Arc of the Centuries, including BusinessMirror’s Chairman Emeritus Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua. BusinessMirror is the sister company of GenCars Philippines which donated the customized Isuzu D-Max LS popemobile that the pontiff used extensively in Manila during his visit. The meeting with the youth was the pope’s third event in Manila. As the Royal, Catholic and Pontifical University, UST is often included in the itinerary of papal visits since the 1970s.
In the afternoon, a record 6 million Filipinos trooped to Quirino Grandstand in Manila where he marked the feast day of Santo Niño and celebrated Mass.
In his homily, Francis prayed for Filipinos “to work together, protecting one another, beginning with your families and communities, in building a world of justice, integrity and peace.”
He also asked the Santo Niño to continue to bless the Philippines and to sustain Christians as witnesses and missionaries of the Gospel, in Asia and in the whole world.
The Holy Father also reminded people that the Santo Niño symbolizes that we are all children of God and that we should help one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
He commended the Filipinos for showing that they are indeed God’s children in the aftermath of Supertyphoon Yolanda last year when they joined hands to help rebuild the lives of those who lost their loved ones and were displaced by the typhoon.
“This is who we are. This is our identity. We saw a beautiful expression of this when Filipinos rallied around our brothers and sisters affected by the typhoon,” he said.
Francis noted that God created the world as “a beautiful garden” and tasked His children to care for it.
However, he said, man has “disfigured” God’s garden through sin, which also “destroyed the unity and beauty of our human family, creating social structures which perpetuate poverty, ignorance and corruption.”
“The devil is the father of lies. Often he hides his snares behind the appearance of sophistication, the allure of being “modern”, “like everyone else”. He distracts us with the promise of ephemeral pleasures, superficial pastimes,” the Holy Father said.
“And so we squander our God-given gifts by tinkering with gadgets; we squander our money on gambling and drink; we turn in on ourselves. We forget to remain focused on the things that really matter. We forget to remain, at heart, children of God,” he added. As if trying to make up for his visit in Tacloban on Saturday that was cut short due to bad weather, Francis took time to greet and bless the crowd that was gathered in front of the grandstand.
The pope seemed mesmerized by the crowd as he waved and looked at the people who gathered along the stretch of Taft Avenue, Quirino Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, Kalaw up to Independence Road. He also stopped in the middle of the crowd to kiss a child, as he would always do in his past meetings and gatherings.
Before the end of the Mass, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines President Most Reverend Socrates Villegas and Manila Archbishop Luis Tagle expressed their gratitude to the pope.
Villegas, in his message, said the pope served as “sunshine” and brought smiles for the Filipino people since he arrived in the country.
“Holy Father you are our sunshine. For many days since you came last Thursday it has been always sunrise of smiles for us Filipinos. We are not feeling the rain. You have brought us joy, you have brought us hope you have brought us warm, you have brought us Jesus,” Villegas said.
Villegas said Filipinos will no longer have to be afraid of typhoons as he taught Filipinos “to cast all our fears.” He also promised the Holy Father that the Philippines will serve as light of Jesus in Asia and the world.
The pope was teary eyed, while Villegas delivered his words of gratitude.
Tagle, for his part, said the pope’s five-day visit has strengthened the faith of the Filipinos.
He thanked the pope on behalf of “ the street children, the orphans, the widows, the homeless, the informal settlers, the laborers, the farmers, the fisher folk, the sick, the abandoned elderly, the families of missing persons, the victims of discrimination, violence, abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, the Filipino migrant workers and their families, the survivors of natural calamities and armed conflicts, the non-Christian Catholics, the followers of non-Christian religions, the promoters of peace, especially in Mindanao and creation that groans.”
“We promise to pray for you. But we want to assure you that Jesus prays for you. Jesus himself declared to Peter, “I have prayed for you that you own faith may not fail,” Tagle said.
“Your holiness, you are blessed. Jesus prays for you. We your beloved Filipinos unite ourselves with Jesus in praying for you to God the Father,” he added.
The pontiff will leave for Rome on Monday morning. Government officials and church leaders are expected to lead the Farewell Ceremonies for Francis at the Villamor Air Base. The pontiff will leave for Rome on Monday morning. Government officials and church leaders are expected to lead the Farewell Ceremonies for Francis at the Villamor Air Base.
Cai Ordinario With Joel San Juan and Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
Image credits: AP/Bullit Marquez