Continuing his strong message to the Filipino family and the youth, Pope Francis on Sunday consecrated Pinoy families and communities to Jesus, the Christ Child, asking them 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.

 

Calling the Philippines a great nation, the pontiff also enjoined the Santo Nino, whose feast day he celebrated in the same mass, to be heralds of the Catholic Church.

 

“May the Santo 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. 

 

'Protect the family'

 

Meanwhile, in what could be construed as criticism of the Reproductive Health Law, which was enacted despite strong opposition from the Church, the Pope Francis also asked Filipinos to protect the family against “certain attacks.”

 

“The Santo 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.  

 

The Pope also reminded the crowd that all life is sacred.

 

“We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected. And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to life on the streets,” he said.

 

Pope Francis also likened the youth of the Philippines to the children Jesus welcomed despite the protests of his own apostles.

 

“In the Gospel, Jesus welcomes children, he embraces them and blesses them. We too need to protect, guide and encourage our young people, helping them to build a society worthy of their great spiritual and cultural heritage,” the pontiff said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/JDS, GMA News