MANILA, Philippines – Bring the Church’s mission for the poor to the “peripheries” of the country, Pope Francis exhorted Jesuit priests when he met with them Friday night.
In a television interview, Fr. Xavier Alpasa said the pope met with him and 39 other Jesuit priests at the Apostolic Nunciature for about 50 minutes starting at 7:15 p.m.
“The pope said in his private audience with us about going to the peripheries. If there is one thing we can say about this pope is that he is consistent about his message of being with the poor,” said Alpasa.
“He has emphasized the mission to the peripheries and he reminded us as Jesuits to go to these frontiers and be with the poor,” he added.
Alpasa said their conversation also showed the spontaneity of the pope, adding that he had shown humility and wit.
“He is very spontaneous, very down to earth, very witty. We would have the usual Jesuit banter, if we would crack a joke, it’s thrown back to you with another joke. That is what happened last night and what we thought would be a couple of minutes of interaction that would be the usual exchange of gifts and a picture taking, it actually stretched to 50 minutes,” Alpasa said.
The meeting with the Jesuits occurred after the pope’s Meeting with the Families at the SM Mall of Asia. – With Christina Mendez