Through the Eyes of His Children: A Day With Pope Francis

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets leading from the Apostolic Nunciature along Taft Avenue to the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City just to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Outside the arena, thousands more waited patiently in the parking lot, as delegates from all over the country slowly filed into the stadium itself. Meanwhile, a huge number of volunteers and police officers tried to maintain security and order around the area. The atmosphere was electric as the thousands of faithful excitedly awaited the appearance of Pope Francis.

Apostolic arrival

The arrival of Pope Francis last January 15 marked the first time a head of the Vatican State has graced the Philippines with his presence since 1995. Just 24 hours  after a vast crowd welcomed the Pope’s arrival in Villamor Air Base in a frenzy, the Holy Father was scheduled to make an appearance in the MOA Arena for an “Encounter with Families”. The event was part of the Pope’s official Papal Visit to the Philippines, with the theme of ‘Mercy and Compassion’.

Almost immediately after the Holy Father’s departure from the Apostolic Nunciature, thousands of excited Filipinos bombarded him with cheers and cries of joy. The Holy Father enthusiastically waves back atop the Popemobile that carries him from Taft Avenue all the way to his destination in the MOA Arena as members of the faithful greet him every step of the way. When he finally arrives at the MOA Parking Lot, those in attendance ignore instructions telling them to stay in their seats and immediately jump and rush forward at the first sign of the Holy Father. The Pope makes his way around the parking lot, blessing and smiling at all in attendance, before entering the MOA Arena on the Popemobile, the crowd behind him chanting in jubilation: “Pope Francis! Pope Francis! Pope Francis!”

The Pope Francis we know

A glance around the MOA grounds can tell you that friends, family, and tourists graced the event to share in the joy and simplicity that Pope Francis brings with him wherever he goes. From waving to the jubilant crowds to holding a baby in his arms, the Pope, known from breaking security protocol much to the delight of the crowd, makes it a point to be as close to the people as possible.

As everyone’s attention was turned to the MOA Arena, those in attendance and glued to their tv screens saw what made Pope Francis the most affable pope of all time. Aside from greeting every person with a smile, Pope Francis took time to thank those who gave him little tokens, with the most notable of which being the cross stich of the Madonna Dolorosa by John Angelo Ortiz  who despite his cerebral palsy traveled 15 hours just to personally hand the pope his work of art.

Family first

When all the pleasantries were done with and the opening prayers were done, it was Pope Francis’ turn to give his own personal message to those in attendance. After giving a strong message to the government officials earlier in the Malacañang palace, he explained to the audience the importance of a complete and holy family to society. Aside from it being society’s most basic unit, the Argentine pontiff emphasized the beauty of the family through the holy family themselves: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

“Resting in prayer is especially important for families,” he mentions. “It is in the family that we first learn how to pray. There we come to know God, to grow into men and women of faith, to see ourselves as members of God’s greater family, the Church.”

Pope Francis’ message was along the lines of Fr. Patrick Peyton’s famous line, “the family that prays together, stays together”. Not only does it keep the bond strong, but prayer also helps us discern God’s will both for the family and for each individual. Later on, the pontiff mentioned that the family teaches us to be better Christians and persons as well.

“In the family we learn how to love, to forgive, to be generous and open, not closed and selfish,” he says. “We learn to move beyond our own needs, to encounter others and share our lives with them.”

There’s something awe-inspiring in the image of thousands of Filipinos cheering in sheer excitement and crying tears of joy at the slightest glimpse of the pontiff. The excitement and love felt towards the man fondly called ‘Lolo Kiko’ is proof that the faith of those gathered around MoA Arena was truly a sight to behold.

There is no doubt that in Pope Francis’ “Encounter with Families”, the Holy Father succeeded in further spreading his message of mercy and compassion, not just to those in attendance, but to Filipino families all around the globe. May we take his message to heart and continue to reflect on the love of family, as even the words of the Pope’s official Twitter account (@Pontifex) serve as a guide and reminder for us in the times ahead:

“Ang pamilya ay ang pinakamahalagang kayamanan ng isang bansa. Naway pagsikapan nating ipagtanggol at patatagin itong pundasyon ng lipunan.”

Ang pamilya ay ang pinakamahalagang kayamanan ng isang bansa. Naway pagsikapan nating ipagtanggol at patatagin itong pundasyon ng lipunan.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 16, 2015

The family is the greatest treasure of any country. Let us all work to protect and strengthen this, the cornerstone of society.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 16, 2015