VERBATIM: Pope Francis' Homily in Quirino Grandstand (January 18, 2015)

Here is Pope Francis' homily in full text during his mass before millions of Filipinos at the Quirino Grandstand. 

“A child is born to us, a son is given us ” (Is 9:5). It is a special joy for me to celebrate Santo Niño Sunday with you. The image of the Holy Child Jesus accompanied the spread of the Gospel in this country from the beginning. Dressed in the robes of a king, crowned and holding the scepter, the globe and the cross he continues to remind us of the link between God’s Kingdom and the mystery of spiritual childhood. He tells us this in today’s Gospel: “ Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Mk 10 :15). The Santo Niño continues to proclaim to us that the light o f God’s grace has shone upon a world dwelling in darkness, bringing the Good News of our freedom from slavery, and guiding us in the paths o f peace, right and justice. The Santo Niño also reminds us of our call to spread the reign of Christ throughout the world. 

In these days, throughout my visit, I have listened to you sing the song: “We are all God’s children”. That is what the Santo Niño tells us. He reminds us of our deepest identity. All of us are God’s children, members of God’s family. Today Saint Paul has told us that in Christ we have become God’s adopted children, brothers and sisters in Christ. This is who we are. This is our identity. We saw a beautiful expression of this when Filipinos rallied around our brothers and sisters affected by the typhoon. 

The Apostle tells us that because God chose us, we have been richly blessed! God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens” (Ep h 1:3). These words have a special resonance in the Philippines, for it is the foremost Catholic country in Asia; this is itself a special gift of God , a blessing. But it is also a vocation. Filipinos are called to be outstanding missionaries of the faith in Asia.

 God chose and blessed us for a purpose: to be holy and blameless in his sight. He chose us, each of us to be witnesses of his truth and his justice in this world. He created the world as a beautiful garden and asked us to care for it. But through sin, man has disfigured that natural beauty; through sin, man has also destroyed the unity and beauty of our human family, creating social structures which perpetuate poverty, ignorance and corruption.

 Sometimes, when we see the troubles, difficulties and wrongs all around us, we are tempted to give up. It seems that the promises of the Gospel do not apply; they are unreal. But the Bible tells us that the great threat to God’s plan for us is, and always has been, the lie.

 The devil is the father of lies. Often he hides his snares behind the appearance of sophistication, the allure of being “modern”, “like everyone else”. He distracts us with the promise of ephemeral pleasures, superficial pastimes. And so we squander our God-given gifts by tinkering with gadgets; we squander our money on gambling and drink; we turn in on ourselves. We forget to remain focused on the things that really matter. 

 We forget to remain, at heart, children of God. That is sin: to forget at heart that we are children of God. For children, as the Lord tells us, have their own wisdom, which is not the wisdom of the world. That is why the message of the Santo Niño is so important. He speaks powerfully to all of us. He reminds us of our deepest identity, of what we are called to be as God’s family.

 The Santo Niño also reminds us that this identity must be protected. The Christ Child is the protector of this great country. When he came into the world, his very life was threatened by a corrupt king. Jesus himself needed to be protected. He had an earthly protector: Saint Joseph. He had an earthly family, the Holy Family of Nazareth. So he reminds us of the importance of protecting our families, and those larger families which are the Church, God’s family, and the world, our human family. Sadly, in our day, the family all too often needs to be protected against insidious attacks and programs contrary to all that we hold true and sacred, all that is most beautiful and noble in our culture.  In the Gospel, Jesus welcomes children, he embraces them and blesses them (Mk 10:16). We too need to protect, guide and encourage our young people, helping them to build a society worthy of their great spiritual and cultural heritage. Specifically, we need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected. And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to life on the streets. 

 It was a frail child, in need of protection, who brought God’s goodness, mercy and justice into the world. He resisted the dishonesty and corruption which are the legacy of sin, and he triumphed over them by the power of his cross. Now, at the end of my visit to the Philippines, I commend you to Him, to Jesus who came among us as a child. May he enable all the beloved people of this country to work together, protecting one another, beginning with your families and communities, in building a world of justice, integrity and peace. May the Santo Niño continue to bless the Philippines and to sustain the Christians of this great nation in their vocation to be witnesses and missionaries of the joy of the Gospel, in Asia and in the whole world. 

 And please, don't forget to pray for me! God bless you all!"

WATCH: Pope Francis' Homily in Quirino Grandstand (January 18, 2015)

Pope Francis leaves Tacloban ahead of schedule due to Typhoon Amang

TACLOBAN CITY - Pope Francis will depart at 1PM today for Manila due to inclement weather caused by Typhoon Amang. Tacloban is currently under Signal Warning No. 2. The Pope apologized to the religious leaders as he advised them that he had to leave early.

UPDATE: Pope Francis safely arrived in Manila around 2 p.m. The 78-year-old pontiff was flown back to the capital by a Philippine Airlines Airbus A320. High-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police awaited him.  Members of the military and their families also welcomed the Catholic pontiff, who is on its third of a five-day state and pastoral visit to the Philippines. 

WATCH: LIVE STREAMING Pope Francis Bound for Manila




Pope Francis is set to officiate a mass tomorrow, January 18 at the Quirino Grand Stand in Luneta. The said event is expected to be attended by 6 Million devotees.

VERBATIM: Pope Francis' homily in Tacloban

Here is the homily of Pope Francis in full text during the Mass in Tacloban City for victims of Typhoon Haiyan 'Yolanda'. 

"If you allow me, I prefer today to speak in Spanish. I have a translator, a good translator. May I do that? Thank you very much.

We have a high priest who is capable of symphatizing with our weaknesses but one who is similarly been tested in every way yet without sin. Jesus is like us. Jesus lived like us. Jesus is the same with us in every respect except sin. Because Jesus was not a sinner.

But to be more like us, He assumed our condition and our sin. He made himself unto sin. This is what Saint Paul tells us. Jesus always goes before us. And when we pass and experience a cross, He passed there before us.

And if today we find ourselves 14 months after, 14 months precisely after the typhoon Yolanda hit, it is because we have the security of knowing that we are not going to weaken in our faith, because Jesus has been there before us. In His passion, He assumed all our pain.

I’d like to tell you something close to my heart. 

When I saw from Rome the catastrophe, I felt that I had to be here and on those very days I decided to come here.

I am here to be with you. A little bit late, I have to say, but I am here. 

I come to tell you that Jesus is Lord and He never lets us down. 

Father, you might say to me, I was let down because I have lost so many things, my house, my livelihood. It’s true, if you would say that, and I respect those sentiments, but Jesus there (pointing to the cross), nailed to the cross, and from there, He does not let us down. 

He was consecrated as Lord, on that throne and there He experienced all calamities that we experienced. Jesus is Lord and the Lord from the cross is there for you. 

Therefore, He is capable of understanding us, as we heard in the first reading. In everything, the same as us. 

That is why we have a Lord who is capable of crying with us, capable of walking with us, in the most difficult moments of life. 

So many of you have lost everything. I don’t know what to say to you. But the Lord does know what to say to you. Some of you have lost part of your families. All I can do is keep silent. And I walk with you all with my silent heart. Many of you have asked the Lord, why Lord? 

And to each of you, to your heart, Christ responds from His heart upon the cross. 

I have no more words to tell you, let us look to Christ, He is the Lord. He understands us because He underwent all the trials that we, that you, have experienced. And beside the cross was His mother. We are like this little child, just there. 

In the moments when we have so much pain, when we no longer understand anything, all we can do is grab hold of her hand firmly. And say, Mom, as a child does to a mother, when he or she feels fear. 

It is perhaps the only word we can say in such difficult times, Mother, Mom. 

Let us together hold a moment of silence, let us look to that Christ on the cross. He understands us because He endured everything. Let us look to our mother, and like that little child, let us grab hold of her mantle, and with a true heart, say, mother. 

In silence, let us say this prayer, say it to the mother, what you feel in your heart. 

(Silence) 

Let us know that we have Mother Mary and our great brother Jesus, we are not alone. We also have many brothers who in this moment of catastrophe came to help you, and we too, because of this we feel more brothers and sisters, because we helped each other. 

This is what comes from my heart and forgive me if I have no other words to express this: But please know, Jesus never lets you down. Please know that the love and tenderness of Mother Mary never lets you down. 

And holding on to her mantle and with the power that comes from Jesus love on the cross, let us move forward, always forward, and walk together as brothers and sisters in the Lord forward. 

Thank you very much."

UPDATED: Pope Francis Tweeted in Tagalog!

MANILA, Philippines - His Holiness Pope Francis is on its third day of his five-day apostolic visit in the Philippines. He celebrated mass yesterday morning with bishops, priests and religious members of the Philippine Catholic Church. In the afternoon, Pope Francis celebrated mass with pre-selected families where he discussed the importance of family in the society. He also tweeted about it in Tagalog. 

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

In English,

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

The Pope also expressed His admiration to the Filipino Catholic Church.

Ang Pilipinas ay patunay ng kabataan at kasiglahan ng Simbahan.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 16, 2015

In English,

The Philippines bear witness to the youthfulness and vitality of the Church.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 16, 2015

Pope is currently at Palo, Leyte where He condoled Typhoon Yolanda Victims. 


UPDATE:  Pope Francis tweeted again in Tagalog!

Ang kahabagan ng Diyos, ang kanyang sakripisyo, ay nagbibigay saysay at halaga sa lahat ng ating paghihirap.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 17, 2015

In English,

The com-passion of God, his suffering-with-us, gives meaning and worth to our struggles and our sufferings.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 17, 2015

Bilang Kristiyano, miyembro ng pamilya ng Diyos, tinatawag tayo upang hanapin at paglingkuran ang lahat ng mga nangangailangan.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 18, 2015

In English,

We who are Christians, members of God’s family, are called to go out to the needy and to serve them.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 18, 2015

Madalas nating makalimutang pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga bagay na talagang mahalaga. Nakakalimutan natin na tayo'y Anak ng Diyos.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 18, 2015

In English,

How often we forget to dedicate ourselves to that which truly matters! We forget that we are children of God.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 18, 2015

Smart gives free Twitter access for 'Papal Visit'

MANILA, Philippines - As a public service to millions of Filipinos who want to share their Papal Visit experience online, Twitter and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have teamed up to offer unlimited access to the popular social networking app on mobile phones for free from January 15 to 19, 2015.

Under the service, all 69 million prepaid and postpaid subscribers of Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk ‘N Text may take to Twitter without worrying about mobile data charges, allowing more Filipinos to follow the Pope’s Twitter account (@Pontifex), send wishes and prayers to the Pope using #DearPopeFrancis hashtag, and get real-time updates on the much anticipated apostolic and state visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines.

More details of the Pope’s visit, including #DearPopeFrancis Tweets, videos, stories and the Pope’s itinerary, can be found at dearpopefrancis.ph.

“With this collaboration, Smart and Twitter aim to allow more Filipinos to get involved and immerse in this historic experience with Pope Francis, who our Catholic nation hold very dear to our heart,” said Napoleon L. Nazareno, president and CEO, PLDT and Smart.

Text DEARPOPE to 9999 starting January 15

Starting January 15, Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk ‘N Text subscribers nationwide may start their one-time registration for the free Twitter service by simply texting DEARPOPE to 9999.

Once registered, subscribers may tweet their aspirations and messages to the beloved Pope using #DearPopeFrancis. Subscribers may also post real-time updates, upload photos, and even reach out to him through his official Twitter account @Pontifex on their mobile devices at no extra cost.

The Pope is the 2nd most followed world leader on Twitter today with over 17 million followers across his nine accounts in different languages. His Tweets are among the most popular on Twitter and are consistently retweeted several thousand times.

Tweets by @Pontifex

"Twitter is excited to partner with Smart to enable all Filipinos to get closer to the Pope and connect with the local community for this historic occasion – from expressing their hopes and prayers using Tweets with #DearPopeFrancis hashtag as well as getting real-time updates, photos and conversations in their Twitter timeline on Pope Francis’ first-ever visit to the Philippines. Most importantly, join the Twitter flock and sign up now to follow the Pope’s Twitter account (@Pontifex) during his visit, so that you can be one of the first to get the Pope’s Tweets via the Twitter app on your Smart mobile device,” said Arvinder Gujral, Director Business Development, India and SE Asia, Twitter.

With over 284 million monthly active users worldwide – 80 percent of which are on mobile – Twitter has become an essential social medium for netizens keeping an eye on real-time updates and social pulse on significant events and issues in the Philippines and around the world.

Upon successful registration, subscribers may either use the Twitter mobile app or access m.twitter.com on their mobile browser for the whole duration of the Papal visit. Subscribers have to maintain at least P1 load balance every day or be subscribed to any plan, promo or bundle to enjoy the free service.

Moreover, mobile users who are registered to the ongoing Smart Free Internet promo may enjoy the Free Twitter service on top of their 30 MB allocation.

Hordes of Filipino devotees are expected to flock to the scheduled gatherings with Pope Francis in the course of his five-day apostolic visit, the culmination of which is a big Eucharistic celebration on January 18 where over 5 million are estimated to show up and catch a glimpse of the Pope for the first time.

DOs and DON'Ts ON THE PAPAL VISIT 2015

Pasay City is the first and last stop of Pope Francis’ Visit in the country.

Mayor Antonino Calixto reiterates his call to all Pasayenos and the general public for discipline during the Papal Visit starting tomorrow, January 15 til Monday, January 19.

All visitors of the City during this historic event to remember the following:

1.     Food and drinks must be in clear and transparent containers or identifiable packaging. Water and other beverages must be in plastic containers.

2.     Bring your maintenance medication especially for diabetics, hypertensives and other medical conditions. Paracetamol and hydrating capsules or solution, together with ample water supply, spare clothing and towels are also encouraged. PhilHealth, private health cards and information regarding medical information about a person may also be useful.

3.     Eight (8) Health Centers, and 3 hospitals namely, the Pasay City General Hospital, the San Juan de Dios Hospital and the Manila Adventist Medical Center are on standby to give immediate medical attention, including:

3.1.     Cuyegkeng Health Center cor. F.B. Harrison

3.2.     Leveriza Heath Center cor. Buendia

3.3.     Lagrosa Health Center at the Pasay Sports Complex

3.4.     MIA Health Center along NAIA Avenue in Pildera

3.5.     Villamor Health Center at the Villamor Airbase

3.6.     San Pablo Health Center along St. Peter st., Maricaban

3.7.     Dona Nena Health Center along Aurora Blvd., (Tramo)

4.     Pasay Rescue and Quick Response Stations with ambulances and responders, together with other City Augmentation Offices (including the PNP, the Pasay Social Work Dept., Pasay Engineering Office, the Pasay Public Order and Safety Unit , and, Pasay City Environment and Natural Resources Office)  are strategically posted along the Papal route, to include:

A.     the Villamor Airbase-Kalayaan

B.     the Aurora Blvd. (Tramo) cor. Andrews street

C.    the Domestic Road cor. MIA road in Pildera

D.    the Cuneta Avenue cor Roxas Blvd.

E.     the San Juan de Dios Hospital along Roxas Blvd.

F.     the Dept. of Foreign Affairs cor. Libertad

G.    the SMDC along Roxas Blvd before Vito Cruz

5.     Children and other minor companions should bring identification Cards with important information such as address, names and telephone number/s of parents or guardians. Kindly accompany lost children to the said Pasay Rescue/Quick Response Stations where personnel of the Pasay Social Work Office may attend to the concern immediately.

6.     Umbrellas, big bags, back packs and other obscured items are discouraged. Monopads for cellphones are also prohibited. 

7.     Motorists and Commuters are advised to refrain from bringing vehicles and/or avoid travelling along Roxas Boulevard and other adjacent roads as they may be closed when necessary.

8.     Parking along Roxas Blvd. Taft Avenue, F.B Harrison, Buendia and EDSA Extension is prohibited. Illegally-parked vehicles will be towed.

9.     One-side parking along inner roads may be allowed.

10.  Report suspicious-looking and doubtful movements of individuals to the nearest PNP officer or to the Pasay Rescue/Quick Reaction Stations.

Let us all hope for a peaceful and free from all evil Papal Visit.

PASAY CITY MAYOR CALIXTO ASKS FOR DISCIPLINE DURING THE 'PAPAL VISIT'

Pasay the “TRAVEL CITY” Mayor Antonino Calixto calls on both residents and visitors of Pasay to practice restraint and discipline during the Pope Francis’ historic five-day visit to the Philippines.

Mayor Calixto made the special announcement in the aftermath of the Feast of the Black Nazarene estimated to be attended by 5.5 million by the Philippine National Red Cross and resulted yielded two casualties and more than 1,500 persons having sought medical help.

The two casualties were reported to be due to injuries during a stampede before the start of the procession and a heart attack. 

High blood pressure, injuries, lacerations, nausea, difficulty in breathing, seizure and sprains were some of the cases attended to by emergency medical personnel posted during the Black Nazarene procession.

“We expect people wanting to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis to be more than the number of devotees during the Feast of the Black Nazarene last January 9. Pasay is the first and last stop of Pope Francis here in the Philippines” Mayor Calixto said. 

Calixto added that “we anticipate not just Catholics from Pasay and Metro Manila but also from all parts of the Philippines and even from other countries to see Pope Francis. All hotels and inns within Pasay are practically fully booked.”

Pasay has the 3rd most number of room accommodations from high end hotel suites to budget inns in the country.

Mayor Calixto is reminding the motoring public to be cooperative and obey the traffic rerouting scheme and road closures set in place for the Papal visit. 



Constant and regular advisories are being issued by the City’s Public Information Office through the traditional as well as the social media.

Calixto also reminded the public to throw their thrash in the designated garbage bins strategically located along and near the Papal routes.

Pasay City is home to Villamor Airbase where the Papal entourage is expected to land on January 15, be sent off to Tacloban on January 17 and back to the Vatican on the 19th of January.

The Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay is also the venue for Pope Francis’ Meeting With the Families on January 16.

MVP Group spearheads #DearPopeFrancis campaign

MANILA, Philippines - The MVP Group of companies, which includes Meralco, PLDT, Smart, Sun Cellular, TV5, Maynilad and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), among others, is spearheading the #DearPopeFrancis campaign in line with the Papal Visit this Jan. 15-19, 2015.



The hashtag #DearPopeFrancis will be used in the various social media networks, in particular Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and in the news programs of TV5.

This campaign calls for the use of the hashtag to accompany messages, photos and videos in welcoming Pope Francis to the Philippines, saying prayers and petitions and sharing stories of mercy and compassion.

TV5 will collect all posts with #DearPopeFrancis and feature these in a special microsite and also in newscasts on both TV and digital channels.

Overall, this campaign invites all Filipinos to take part in the experience of having Pope Francis in the country by posting on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and participating in the Papal Visit message wall at www.dearpopefrancis.ph.

'PAPAL VISIT' 2015 Philippines Ofiicial Theme Song

MANILA, Philippines - His Holiness Pope Francis is set to arrive in the country this week. If you are planning to attend the mass to be held at the Luneta Park this coming Sunday, January 18 you have to watch the action video below. The church encourages us to memorize the lyrics and actions of the official theme song "We Are All God's Children" sang by Ms. Jamie Rivera with The Hail Mary the Queen Children's Choir.

WATCH: We Are All God's Children ACTION VIDEO

LYRICS of We Are All God's Children

  









Do you see these children on the streets?
Have you walked the pavements where they sleep?
Do you feel their hands when you give them alms?
Did you ever give them bread to eat?
Have you seen their homes washed by the floods?
While a mother tightly holds her child
Do you hear the wind of the raging storm?
Can you tell them where it's coming from?
Let us show our love and mercy
With true kindness and humility
For the God loves the weak and the needy
Just like you and me
We are all God's children we are all the same
He is calling us by name to help the poor and lame
And learn what life is really for
It's to know and love and serve the Lord

Stand together and let's do our part
Hear their voices mend their broken hearts
Choose to be brave fight for their rights
Give them back their honor and their pride
Please do not be blind and just leave them behind
To struggle in darkness or give them empty promises
We are all God's children we are all the same
He is calling us by name to help the poor and lame
And learn what life is really for
It's to know and love and serve the Lord
It's to know and love and serve the Lord
It's to know and love and serve the Lord 

Download the MP3 here.

'PAPAL VISIT' Advisory: PASAY RED ALERT STARTING JANUARY 14

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasay City local government has announced RED ALERT (Task Force VIP Gears for Final Local Deployment And Support To Papal Visit) starting January 14.

As Pasay City is Pope Francis’ first and final stop during his five-day visit to the Philippines, the “Travel City” places Task Force VIP’s (Viva Il Papa) on red alert starting January 14 (Wednesday) as it gears for its final deployment and support to the National Government during the “event of the decade”.

Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto today said that “Pasay City is on Red Alert starting January 14. Today, we are finalizing our preparation on the local level in support of the country’s mission to make this year’s historic Papal Visit successful.”

                                                                                                    

The Southern Police District has already briefed the 19 Barangays of Pasay along the Papal route regarding route segmentation. Meanwhile, the DILG met with officials of the same Barangays to determine their tasks as providers of secondary “force multipliers” for crowd control, among others.

Pasay City Administrator and Task Force VIP Over-all Coordinator Atty. Dennis Acorda said that “intensified coordination is being conducted by all members of the Task Force and their respective personnel with National Government Agencies This is to ensure that the Pope’s Visit to Pasay will be the most successful one.”

The Pasay City Rescue Team’s tasking from the Office of Civil Defense consists of two rescue teams and an ambulance at the Domestic Road/MIA Road intersection, and, two ambulances at the Andrews Avenue/Tramo intersection.

The Pasay Rescue Team will be on full two shifting 24-hour alert. Each rescue team is composed of five responders each ambulance.

At the same time, the Pasay Recue will strategically position one ambulance at the Villamor Airbase Airport where Pope Francis’ plane is expected to land.

Four Reaction Areas will also be set up along Roxas Boulevard: Cuneta Avenue; the San Juan de Dios Hospital; the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at the corner of Libertad, and, in Lourdes street after Buendia before Vito Cruz.

Each reaction areas will be composed of personnel from the Pasay City Hall; the Pasay City Environment and Natural Resources Office for cleanliness of the areas; the Pasay Traffic Management Office for accessible routes after Roxas Blvd. have been closed to traffic; the Health Department for immediate medical attention; the Public Order and Safety Office for crowd control, and, the City Engineering Office for anything that requires immediate movement, construction and the like.

During the Pope’s Meeting with the Families at the Mall of Asia Arena on Day 2, the Pasay Rescue Team will preposition two ambulances per four Stations along the EDSA Extension together with personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Red Cross. Other nearby LGU’s will also preposition ambulances along Edsa Extension.

You may check the official itinerary of the Pope here.