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Pope Francis in Luneta: Our ‘deepest identity’ is as God’s children
Pope Francis kisses a child as he arrives at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday, January 18. AFP/Ted Aljibe
(UPDATED 8:39 p.m.) Speaking before millions of devotees during his concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday afternoon, Pope Francis highlighted the Filipinos' special relationship with Sto. Niño, the Child Jesus, asking the faithful to embrace the identity of being “God’s children.”
“Throughout my visit, I have listened to you sing the song: 'We are all God’s children.' That is what the Sto. Niño tells us. He reminds us of our deepest identity. All of us are God’s children, members of God’s family,” said Pope Francis, whose mass coincided with the Feast of the Sto. Niño.
Pope Francis, in the country for a five-day visit, added that Catholics are God’s adopted children, and in turn Jesus’ own siblings.
“Today Saint Paul has told us that in Christ we have become God’s adopted children, brothers and sisters in Christ. 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, referring to super typhoon Yolanda, which leveled Central Visayas and killed thousands in November 2013.
Pope Francis also noted how the rich history of the Sto. Nino is closely tied to the history of Catholicism in the country, and, in turn, reminded the public of their role in spreading the Good News of Christ to those they encounter
“The image of the Holy Child Jesus accompanied the spread of the Gospel in this country from the beginning. Dressed in the robes of a king, crowned and holding the sceptre, the globe and the cross, he continues to remind us of the link between God’s Kingdom and the mystery of spiritual childhood. The Sto. Niño also reminds us of our call to spread the reign of Christ throughout the world,” he said.
Speaking in halting English, Pope Francis also cautioned against modern trappings that could distract the faithful from the love of God, and leading them to seek worldly pleasures.
“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. 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,” he said.
He also once again tackled corruption: "Through sin, man has also destroyed the unity and beauty of our human family, creating social structures which perpetuate poverty, ignorance and corruption."
Fiesta welcome
Chants of "Papa Francesco," a Sinulog dance, and the ringing of church bells highlighted a fiesta welcome for Pope Francis when he arrived at Luneta, with many in the crowd raising images of the Sto. Niño as the papal convoy passed by them.
The Catholic Church had earlier asked the devotees of the Sto. Niño to bring their images of the Baby Jesus to the event so that it will be blessed by the Holy Father.
The Argentine Pope concelebrated the mass with more than 2,000 priests and bishops, while a 1,000-member choir sand at the Mass accompanied by a 200-member orchestra. The Holy Mass was celebrated in multiple languages.
City officials said some four million people were in Manila's Rizal Park and more in surrounding areas to witness the event. Organizers had said they had expected as many as six million people.
Among those who were in attendance was President Benigno Aquino III. A GMA News live video showed a heavily escorted Aquino, who was wearing a black jacket, walking toward the designated area for officials.
Last Friday, Aquino met with Pope Francis in Malacañang Palace as part of the latter's state visit as head of state of the Vatican.
Rapturous receptions for the pope throughout his Philippine journey, including millions crowding his motorcade routes in Manila, have cemented the nation's status as the Church's Asian role model.
Strong messages
Continuing his strong message to the Filipino family and the youth, Pope Francis asked Filipino families and communities to work together to build a "world of justice, integrity and peace."
"At the end of my visit to the Philippines, I commend you to Him, to Jesus who came among us as a child. May he enable all the beloved people of this country to work together, protecting one another, beginning with your families and communities, in building a world of justice, integrity and peace," Pope Francis said.
The Pope again asked Filipinos to protect the family against "certain attacks," in a message that could be construed as criticism of the country's Reproductive Health Law, which had met stiff opposition from the local Catholic hierarchy before being passed in 2012.
"The Sto. Niño reminds us of the importance of protecting our families, and those larger families which are the Church, God’s family, and the world, our human family. Sadly, in our day, the family all too often needs to be protected against insidious attacks and programs contrary to all that we hold true and sacred, all that is most beautiful and noble in our culture," Pope Francis said.
It was similar to his address to families last Friday, when Pope Francis referenced Blessed Paul VI, who as Pope wrote the encyclical Humanae Vitae that defined the Catholic Church's continued rejection of most forms of artificial birth control.
It was similar to his address to families last Friday, when Pope Francis referenced Blessed Paul VI, who as Pope wrote the encyclical Humanae Vitae that defined the Catholic Church's continued rejection of most forms of artificial birth control.
Despite strong opposition from bishops, Aquino signed the reproductive health bill in December 2012. The law aims to provide improved public access to natural and artificial family planning options, better maternal care, and sex education to the youth.
'A great nation'
Calling the Philippines a "great nation," the pontiff also enjoined the Sto. Niño to be heralds of the Church.
"May the Sto. Niño continue to bless the Philippines and to sustain the Christians of this great nation in their vocation to be witnesses and missionaries of the joy of the Gospel, in Asia and in the whole world," he said.
The Philippines is the Catholic Church's benchmark in Asia, with 80 percent of the former Spanish colony followers of the faith.
It is his second trip to Asia in five months, in a nod to the growing importance of the region to the Catholic Church as it faces declining support in Europe and the United States.
It is also the fourth papal visit to the Philippines. — with reports from Joel Locsin, Trisha Macas, Agence France-Presse, Reuters/KBK/JST, GMA News
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