It seems it was not only the Filipinos who still have a hangover following the five-day visit of Pope Francis in the country. It appears even the pontiff has yet to get over the experience.

 

In his message before the faithful gathered at the Paul VI Audience Hall in Vatican City Wednesday morning, Pope Francis recounted his experience during his apostolic and state visit in the Philippines last week.

 

According to GMA News reporter Kara David, who is currently at the Vatican, Pope Francis, during his address at the weekly general papal audience gathering, said he was “very happy” with his visit in the Philippines.

 

David reported that Pope Francis particularly praised the Filipinos' devotion to the Sto. Niño and their resilience in times of calamities.

 

It can be remembered that Pope Francis' mass at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday, January 18 coincided with the feast of the Holy Child or Sto. Niño, thus many of the mass attendees brought their images of the Sto. Niño with them to be blessed by the pope.

 

Meanwhile, Pope Francis' visit in Tacloban was highlighted by a heartfelt mass attended by thousands of people, majority of them were victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda.

 

According to David's report aired on “News To Go”, Pope Francis, during his papal audience address, also called on Filipinos to strengthen further their faith and be the evangelizers or messengers of Christ's good news across Asia.

 

The Philippines is considered as the only Catholic country in Asia with 86 percent of its population belonging to the Catholic Church.

 

David reported that Pope Francis also told the papal audience about his encounters with the families at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and his encounter with the youths at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

 

Pope Francis was quoted at the News To Go report as saying that children as well as the ability to bear a child are blessings from God.

 

Pope Francis also reportedly said that he does not believe that overpopulation is the root of poverty in developing countries such as the Philippines but the unequal distribution of goods and resources and the system of governance which focuses on gaining profits for the benefit of the few. This part of the Pope's address reportedly drew cheers from the crowd.

 

Pope Francis, during his message before the families at the SM MOA Arena called for the protection of human life from “conception to natural death”.

 

However, on his flight back to the Vatican from the Philippines, Pope Francis clarified that to be good Catholics, couples must also practice responsible parenthood and not “breed like rabbits”.

 

In a speech at the Malacañang during his courtesy call with President Benigno Aquino III, Pope Francis also dared politicians to “be honest” and “reject all forms of corruption which divert resources from the poor."

 

The papal audience gathering is a weekly event in the Vatican usually held at St. Peter's Square but since it was raining hard there Wednesday morning, the gathering was held at Pope Paul VI Audience Hall. —Elizabeth T. Marcelo/NB, GMA News