In the thick of preparations and euphoria on his upcoming Philippine
visit, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said Pope Francis
asked Filipino well wishers to focus on Jesus, not on him.
“The pope said: I hope I will not be the focus of this pastoral visit. Let Jesus be the focus of my pastoral visit,” Tagle said.
“The Holy Father wants his pastoral visit to be an occasion for us to
turn to Jesus… I’m telling you this, we who will play big roles in this
visit let us not lose sight of that because it came from him himself,”
the Cardinal told members of the media during a recollection held at the
University of Santo Tomas to let members of the media who will cover
the papal visit “spiritually ready”.
More than disseminating important updates to the public during his
five-day apostolic visit, Tagle said “it is important for media
practitioners covering the historic event to be spiritually ready for
the coming of the pope” consistent with the overall purpose of the papal
visit.
He reminded media practitioners “to highlight the fact that when the
Holy Father comes, he will bring with him the message of “Mercy and
Compassion,” “Awa at Malasakit”– the theme for the papal visit. We are
all products of the mercy of God. Let us focus on why he is coming here
in the first place. He wants to be one with calamity survivors. He wants
to spread God’s love, God’s message of mercy and compassion. When the
pope meets us, we hope to make him see a people touched by God’s mercy
and living out the compassion of God.”
“The role of media in bringing the latest news and developments to
the public is very important. It requires not only hard work and
commitment but a deep sense of spirituality. Seek the guidance of the
Holy Spirit in this most important, meaningful task,” he added.
The prelate said the papal visit “is an invitation to strengthen
one’s faith as well as one’s own pastoral and communal life. Let us not
loosen our sight. The papal visit needs a pastoral life and a communal
life.”
The Cardinal also expressed hope that Filipinos will be an inspiration to Pope Francis.
“I hope Pope Francis will be inspired and learn from Filipinos. I
hope he’ll see how merciful and compassionate we are to each other,” he
said in his talk during the recollection for the media.
Tagle said Francis is visiting the country not only to inspire Filipinos but also to be inspired by them.
“The pope will come not only as a teacher but also as someone in need of inspiration. Let us inspire him,” he said.
It is for this reason that the cardinal is urging the faithful to be
instruments of mercy and compassion to those who are suffering such as
the poor especially this Advent Season.
“Let us be the instruments of Advent, the coming of mercy and
compassion especially to the poor not only for the visit of the pope but
on a daily basis,” said Tagle.
Meanwhile, the official itinerary of Pope Francis stays.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president
Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Vilegas denied reports that
Malacañang was pressuring them to skip the pope’s visit to Tacloban
City, one of the hardest hit areas by typhoon “Yolanda.”
“No such pressure,” according to Villegas, a member of the central
committee and one of the chairs of the Papal Visit Steering Committee.
