Pope Francis’ message at MOA: Keep the family intact

Everyone has a beautiful story to share about Pope Francis, whether they were just waiting by the roadside or were present in one of the numerous events organized for various groups.  TV captured ecstatic crowds greeting him at every street corner, even if they waited countless hours under the searing sun or the pouring rain for even just a short glimpse of the Pontiff.  Oftentimes, I would catch myself shedding tears while watching and listening to him. No one has ever electrified us with such fervor and I doubt if anyone would ever be able to do so again in this lifetime.

My family and I felt truly blessed when we were invited to attend the “Encounter with Families” by our friend Elvira Go.  Anticipating traffic and the huge crowds that would be in the Roxas Boulevard area, we left a full five hours early to be sure we would be on time.  It was a fiesta-like atmosphere as we reached the Mall of Asia. And since many of the streets were blocked off, we walked several long blocks to the Arena flanked by well-mannered police.

Excitement was in the air because we all knew we were going to meet a truly special person in this celebration of faith. What I could not fathom was why the emcees insisted we repeatedly shout out loud,  “We love you, Lolo Kiko!” Not only was it irreverent; it was utterly silly and circuslike.

As the Pontiff arrived, the crowd roared with loud applause and enthusiastic cheers.  His charismatic presence, piercing eyes and sweet smile made us love him even more as he spoke in Spanish and English: “We are all God’s children and equal in His eyes. The family is the greatest treasure of any country.  Let us all work to protect and strengthen this, the cornerstone of society.”

Yes, life is difficult, stressful and at times burdensome, yet the Pope inspires us to be better by reminding us to be honest,  to shun corruption (attention, public officials), to keep the family unit intact. He stressed  the importance of women, caring for the poor,  showing compassion for those who have suffered, among many valuable messages. 

Living one’s faith can be difficult, but Pope Francis is one with us in our suffering and loss.  He motivates us to make our trek through life a little easier and a lot more bearable as he radiates love, joy and hope.  

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