Pope Francis is back in the Vatican, but the message he gave to Filipinos remains. Not just to reflect upon.
While the pope’s calls to stop corruption in all levels, to serve the poor and work to address environmental and climate change issues are not new, what makes Francis’ message on these themes very powerful was his authentic presence – his ability to convey words with spontaneous action that bleed sincerity, and that he addressed it collectively to the universal Church, and to individually members of the faithful. One need not be Catholic to moved by his message.
The pope’s five-day visit was also full of powerful symbolism. Holding a Mass under storm signal no. 2 was a test of faith. In the Tacloban City Mass, Pope Francis – vicar of Christ on Earth – showed his humility when he admitted he had no complete answer to questions about why God allows suffering. The same pause happened in his encounter with the youth at the University of Santo Tomas, especially to the question of the 12-year-old former street kid Glyza.
The pope’s silence, the admission that there is no answer on earth to many profound questions is a powerful reminder that faith is ultimately a mystery – that one can only respond, be present and walk with it.
Francis challenged us to be wise. And to do so, we need to “think well, feel well and do well.”
Here in Cebu, the Archdiocese is striving to sustain its advocacy against corruption and poverty.
Its ability to galvanize its flock will be tested in reviving public support for the People’s Initiative to Abolish the Pork Barrel System, an issue set aside by months of fresh drama on Binay’s alleged excesses.
Archbishop Jose Palma is consulting various groups to broaden the Church’s effort to empower the populace to work for transparency and good governance.
Of course, there is cynicism borne out of experience and past disappointments.
This cynicism can only be proved wrong, if Cebuanos – and all Filipinos – acting as a community of faithful and individuals who desire conditions of social justice, security and progress accept the challenge to work for individual and collective renewal.
How? There is no easy answer. Let’s see how things unfold in the next days, weeks and years ahead, and if Pope Francis seeded ripe ground.