POPE Francis on Friday asked young priests, seminarians and religious groups to guide the youth, especially those who may be “confused and despondent,” and make them feel that the Church is their source of hope.
The pope made the appeal during his first Mass in the Philippines that was held at the more than 400-year-old Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, or Manila Cathedral, which was attended by more than 1,000 priests and nuns.
He also asked them to “be present to those who, living in the midst of a society burdened by poverty and corruption, are broken in spirit, tempted to give up, to leave school and to live on the streets.”
“Here, I would like to address a special word to the young priests, religious and seminarians among us. I ask you to share the joy and enthusiasm of your love for Christ and the Church with everyone, but especially with your peers. Be present to young people who may be confused and despondent, yet continue to see the Church as their friend on the journey and a source of hope,” Francis said.
The youth comprise majority of the members of the Church in the country.
The pope arrived at the Manila Cathedral at exactly 11 a.m. and was greeted by the ecstatic crowd with cheers and chants of “Pope Francis.”
The pontiff finished his Mass at around 12:30 p.m. and left the premises to return to the Apostolic Nunciature, his official residence in Manila.
The crowd sang “Tell the World of His Love,” which was the official theme of Saint Pope John Paul II’s visit in Manila back in 1995, while waiting for the pope to get out of the Cathedral after the Mass.
While the pope was celebrating the Mass, several people collapsed and were given immediate medical treatment after the heat, fatigue and lack of sleep took its toll on them.
Some of those who were in the crowd arrived at the Manila Cathedral premises as early as 3 a.m.
Before the pope’s arrival, personnel of the Air Force Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit asked photojournalists to “click” each of their cameras as part of the security measures for the pope.
Do you love me?
ALSO during his homily, the pope thanked the Filipino people for showing their love to him.
“Do you love me?” the Holy Father asked his audience, to which they replied “yes.”
He answered back: “Thank you.”
“I greet all of you with great affection. And I ask you to bring my affection to all your elderly and infirm brothers and sisters, and to all those who cannot join us today,” the pope told the clergy present. He also urged all the clergy to reject worldly perspectives and materialism in order to see all things in the light of Christ.
“How can we proclaim the newness and liberating power of the Cross to others, if we ourselves refuse to allow the word of God to shake our complacency, our fear of change, our petty compromises with the ways of this world, our ‘spiritual worldliness,’” he said.
He also encouraged the clergy to proclaim the beauty and truth of the Christian message to a society which is tempted by “confusing presentations of sexuality, marriage and the family.”
“As you know, these realities are increasingly under attack from powerful forces, which threaten to disfigure God’s plan for creation and betray the very values which have inspired and shaped all that is best in your culture,” the pontiff stressed.
With Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
Image credits: Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco