Pope dares Pinoy youth: Learn how to weep for the marginalized

By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News

Published January 18, 2015 11:08am

(Updated 6:31 p.m.) Pope Francis on Sunday challenged the Filipino youth to "learn how to weep" for the poor and the marginalized during his second to the last day of his visit to the Philippines, where a fourth of the population live in poverty.

During his encounter with young Filipinos at the University of Sto. Tomas, the Roman Catholic leader lamented how many children are suffering around the world.

"The marginalized people, those left in one side, are crying. Those who are discarded are crying," the pontiff said.

The Pope then dared the youth from the Philippines, where most of the population are young and Roman Catholics, to empathize with the marginalized.

"We need to ask ourselves: have we learned how to weep, how to cry, for somebody left to one side, for someone who has a drug problem?" the pontiff said.

"If you don't learn how to cry, you can't be good Christians. This is a challenge," he added.

Before delivering his message, the Pope listened to emotional statements from Filipino children who spent early days of their lives on the streets.

The event's most striking moment came when 12-year-old Glyzelle Palomar tearfully asked the Pope, ""Why does God allow children to be victims of drug addiction and prostitution?"

Pope Francis comforted the former street children by giving them hugs and rosaries.

Later in his message, the Pope said: “When the heart is able to ask itself and cry, then we can understand something." He then went on to urge the youth delegates to have the courage to cry, as Jesus did by suffering with the people.

"Let us learn how to weep as she has showed us today," the Pope said.

Euphoric welcome

Earlier in the day, the Pope was welcomed by a euphoric crowd at the UST, the only pontifical university in Asia. Thousands broke into a rapturous cheer and waved Vatican City State flags as soon as the Roman Catholic leader rode his Popemobile to the venue.

Once aboard the suzu pickup-based Popemobile inside the campus, the Pope waved to the cheering crowds, most of whom had been in the area since Saturday evening.

The crowd cheered "Pope Francis, we love you!" as the Popemobile went around the campus.

Before the youth encounter, the Pope held a brief meeting with local leaders of other religions.

Two years ago, Pope Francis called global poverty a “scandal” and a “cry.” He also urged the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world “not have too many things and to become a little poorer.”

Although poverty incidence in the Philippines was reported lower last year, almost a fourth of the over 100 million Filipinos remain poor, based on latest government data.

Some 11.4 million Filipino families considered themselves poor by the end of last year, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

‘Let yourself be loved’

In his impromptu message, Pope Francis also emphasized the Roman Catholic Church's "need for holy, young people."

To be able to accomplish this, the pontiff said the youth should respond to "the challenge of love."

"You may ask me, how do we become saints? it is another cahllenge, it is the challenge of love, which is the most important subject you need to learn in the university, the most important lesson you need to learn in life," the Pope said.

"Real love is about loving and letting yourself be loved. Let yourself be loved," he added.

Pope Francis also told the youth in the Philippines, considered to be the world's social media capital, "not to have the psychology of the computer" and "not to think that we know it all."

He also encouraged young people to be "wise" learning "three languages": "To think. To feel. To do."

The Pope's message at the youth event echoed his earlier statements on poverty during this Philippine visit. During his courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III at the Malacanang Palace last Friday, the Pope challenged politicians to reject corruption and prioritize the poor.

On Saturday, the Church leader was also supposed to call for political and economic policies to benefit the poor during his visit to Leyte, a province still recovering from destruction brought by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

The Leyte visit, however, was cut short due to the threat of another weather disturbance, Tropical Storm Amang.

Care for the environment

At the UST event, Pope Francis also briefly encouraged the Filipino youth to address the challenge of climate change.

"This is not only because your country, more than many others, is likely to be seriously affected by climate change. It is a challenge to [have] concern for the environment," the Roman Catholic leader said.

Last year, the United Nations identified the Philippines as the second country in the world most vulnerable to hazards and effects of climate change, next to Vanuatu.

Around 20 weather disturbances enter the Philippine area of responsibility every year.

While on his way to the Philippines, Pope Francis told reporters on board the papal plane that climate change is mostly man's fault.

Women’s role

Also in his same message to the youth, Pope Francis pushed for women's greater role in society and criticized the culture of machismo.

Women "have much to tell us in today's society," the Pope said.

The pontiff arrived at the UST campus at 9:24 a.m. to meet with religious leaders and the youth.

On board a Popemobile, he went around the campus waving to the crowd and kissing and blessing children.

Later in the day, the Pope will celebrate a Mass at the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park where thousands have gathered since Saturday to await his arrival. — RSJ/KG, GMA News

Tags: popefrancis, popefrancisphlvisit