Pope Francis preaches love for the poor, life of piety in his first Mass in PHL

By PATRICIA DENISE CHIU, GMA News

Published January 16, 2015 12:13pm

(Updated 1:23 p.m.) In his first Mass in the Philippines on Friday, Pope Francis called on the Filipino flock to embrace the poor and to live simple lives of piety to please the Lord. In particular, he asked his religious brothers and sisters to reject materialism and embrace Christ-like poverty.

“For us priests and consecrated persons, conversion to the newness of the Gospel entails a daily encounter with the Lord in prayer. For religious, living the newness of the Gospel also means finding ever anew in community life and community apostolates the incentive for an ever closer union with the Lord in perfect charity. For all of us, it means living lives that reflect the poverty of Christ, whose entire life was focused on doing the will of the Father and serving others,” Pope Francis told some 2,000 attendees inside the Manila Cathedral.

The Mass was exclusively attended by bishops, priests, nuns and other religious persons.

During his homily, Pope Francis quoted Jesus’ words to St. Peter, when Jesus asked the first pope of the Church to “tend his sheep.”

“‘Do you love me? Tend my sheep.’ Jesus’ words to Peter in today’s Gospel are the first words I speak to you, dear brother bishops and priests, men and women religious, and young seminarians. These words remind us of something essential. All pastoral ministry is born of love,” Pope Francis said.

To show that love, the Holy Father called on Filipino priests and other religious people to “become poor,” to better identify with those they preach to.

“The great danger is a certain materialism which can creep into our lives and compromise the witness we offer. Only by becoming poor ourselves, by stripping away our complacency, will we be able to identify with the least of our brothers and sisters. We will see things in a new light and thus respond with honesty and integrity to the challenge of proclaiming the radicalism of the Gospel in a society which has grown comfortable with social exclusion, polarization and scandalous inequality,” Pope Francis said.

The theme of Pope Francis’ homily matched that of his earlier speech in Malacañang after paying a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III.

During that speech, Pope Francis also called on political leaders to work hard to erase “scandalous social inequalities” in the country.

Priests as ambassadors of Christ

Meanwhile, Pope Francis noted the special role of consecrated men and women as ambassadors of Christ, saying they have a greater duty to invite others to know the Lord better.

“To be an ambassador for Christ means above all to invite everyone to a renewed personal encounter with the Lord Jesus. This invitation must be at the core of your commemoration of the evangelization of the Philippines,” he said.

Additionally, Pope Francis also reminded the religious people gathered in the Mass that they have a mission to right the inequalities present in Philippine society.

“The Church in the Philippines is called to acknowledge and combat the causes of the deeply rooted inequality and injustice which mar the face of Filipino society, plainly contradicting the teaching of Christ. The Gospel calls individual Christians to live lives of honesty, integrity and concern for the common good. But it also calls Christian communities to create “circles of integrity”, networks of solidarity which can expand to embrace and transform society by their prophetic witness,” he said.

Special mission for young priests

Along with the mission Pope Francis gave all religious men and women, the Holy Father also gave special mention to the role of young priests in the country to “share the joy” of loving Christ.

“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,” he said.

Pope Francis entrusted confused youths who may be thinking of leaving school to live on the streets to the young priests and seminarians who can connect with them best.

“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. Proclaim the beauty and truth of the Christian message to a society which is tempted by confusing presentations of sexuality, marriage and the family,” he said.

“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,” he added.

500 years of the Church in the Philippines

In the same homily, Pope Francis also mentioned the upcoming celebration of 500 years of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

“As the Church in the Philippines looks to the fifth centenary of its evangelization, we feel gratitude for the legacy left by so many bishops, priests and religious of past generations. They labored not only to preach the Gospel and build up the Church in this country, but also to forge a society inspired by the Gospel message of charity, forgiveness and solidarity in the service of the common good,” Pope Francis said.

During the mass, Pope Francis asked Filipino clergy to continue “building bridges” to connect Christ's flock, not just in the Philippines but also throughout Asia.

“Today you carry on that work of love. Like [those that came before you], you are called to build bridges, to pasture Christ’s flock, and to prepare fresh paths for the Gospel in Asia at the dawn of a new age.

Pope Francis also highlighted the “great missionary potential” of the faith of the Filipino people.

“Filipino culture has, in fact, been shaped by the imagination of faith. Filipinos everywhere are known for their love of God, their fervent piety and their warm devotion to Our Lady and her rosary. This great heritage contains a powerful missionary potential. It is the way in which your people has inculturated the Gospel and continues to embrace its message. In your efforts to prepare for the fifth centenary, build on this solid foundation,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News

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