Pope to Filipino couples: Relive 'boyfriend-girlfriend' dreams

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis on Friday encouraged Filipino husbands and wives to always look back to their dreams when they were still dating.

"Don't ever lose the illusion of when you were boyfriend or girlfriend," Pope Francis said in Spanish, subsequently translated by Msgr. Mark Gerard Miles.

"How many solutions are found to family problems if we take time to reflect. if we think of a husband or wife, and we dream about the good qualities that they have," he also said.

Commenting on the importance of "dreams" an audience with thousands of families at the Mall of Asia Arena, the Roman Pontiff said that each member of the family should not lose their hopes for their loved ones.

"I recommend that at night when you examine your consciences, ask yourself today, did I dream about my sons and daughters? Did I dream of the love of my husband or my wife?" he said.

"Did i dream of my parents, my family? It is so important to dream and to dream in the family. Please don't lose this ability to dream in this way," the Pope continued.

He said that it is impossible to have a family without any hope, as this fuels each member's love for the other.

At the start of his homily, Pope Francis excused himself to deliver part of it in his native tongue, admitting that his English "is so poor."

RELATED: Pope Francis deviates from itinerary to meet street kids

"I ask Father Miles to translate and I speak in Spanish," he said.

He listened to stories of several families who told him about their stories and how the Catholic faith has inspired them in their lives.

The pope also spent light moments with the families present at the MOA Arena in his homily, particularly when he related that he has a "sleeping" image of St. Joseph on his desk.

He said he would scribble down his problem on a piece of paper and put it under the image so that the sleeping saint would dream of it.