Pope to Pinoy priests: Focus on Jesus, not on me

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, said on Saturday that the pope wants those preparing for his January 15-19 visit to focus on Jesus Christ and not on him.

 

At a forum hosted in Intramuros by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Tagle said the pope, known for his humility and simplicity, is aware that Filipinos are excited about his visit but does not want to be the focus of attention during his stay in the Philippines. 

 

According to Tagle, the pope has heard stories about him which are not true. One story said the pope goes out at midnight to feed the hungry. But Tagle said the pope told him: “I am very busy. I do not have time to leave the Vatican.”

 

The pope noted that “people are creating their own Pope Francis,” Tagle recalled, adding that the pope insisted that he was just a normal person and he wants Filipinos to meet “the real Francis.”

 

Asked about the significance of the pope’s visit to Filipinos, Tagle said the event is “an opportunity not only to know Pope Francis but who we are as Filipinos.”

 

In Asia, the world’s most populous continent, Catholics make up only three percent of the entire population, the cardinal said, adding that in that three percent, half are in the Philippines. 

 

Tagle said the pope will most likely call on Filipino Catholics to be “bearers of the Gospel, to live it and witness to it” not just by how they speak but by how they live their lives.

 

Tagle added that the pope’s visit is also an opportunity for self-examination.

 

Even if the pope were to visit the Philippines every year but Filipinos will let injustice or immorality prevail, the papal visit would be meaningless, he said.

 

Tagle said it is up to Filipinos to determine “what change must take place” after the inspiration and hope brought by the pope’s visit. 

 

On Bohol, other calamity-stricken areas

 

Meanwhile, Tagle noted that many Filipinos want to meet Pope Francis in person but said this is physically impossible. 

 

The cardinal said some people are asking why the pope will only visit Manila and Tacloban when there are victims either of man-made or natural disasters in other places too.

 

In jest, Tagle said the pope might have to stay for six months if he were to meet all victims of disasters and calamities.

 

For Filipinos unable to attend the papal events, Tagle said, TV, radio, newspapers, online news sites and social media sites are good means of being updated about the events.

 

Tagle also said whenever the pope embraces a Filipino, he is embracing other Filipinos as well.

The visit

Tagle said the pope was the one who brought up the topic of his visit to the Philippines in one of their meetings in Rome.

 

Initially, Tagle said they wanted to invite Pope Francis to the Philippines in 2016. But he said the pope, who turned 78 last December 17, told him, “What 2016? That’s too long. Remember I’m an old man. I might be dead by then.”

 

Eventually, the date was set for the pope’s visit this January 2015, exactly 20 years since the visit of then pope and now Saint John Paul II to the Philippines.

 

Tagle said they initially had forgotten that it was the 20th anniversary of the last papal visit to the Philippines when setting the dates for Pope Francis' visit. 

 

Noting the “nice coincidence” of events, Tagle said, “Somebody else must be working up there.”

 

Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines just before 6:00 p.m. on January 15. On January 16, he will pay a courtesy call to Malacañan Palace, meet with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and attend the Meeting of Families at the Mall of Asia.

 

On January 17, he will go on a day trip to Leyte. On January 18, he will celebrate Mass at the University of Santo Tomas. He will then fly to France the following day.

 

Asked what event he is most looking forward to, Tagle said with a big smile on his face, “Lahat! Lahat, lahat, lahat!” — JDS, GMA News