MANILA, Philippines — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle vowed before Pope Francis on Sunday that Filipinos want to go with him as he leaves on Monday.
"Not to Rome," Tagle clarified. "But to the peripheries—to the shanties, to prison cells, to hospitals, to the world of politics, finance, arts, sciences, culture, education and social communications."
Cardinal Tagle to Santo Padre: Tomorrow, you will go. Every Filipino wants to go with you.(Pope smiles, crowd laughs) pic.twitter.com/q5HDLItpqE
— KPOP FANGIRL (@alliah017) January 18, 2015 Tagle acknowledged the pope's call for Filipinos to be "outstanding" missionaries of the faith in Asia.
"We will go to these worlds to bring the light of Jesus, Jesus who is the center of your pastoral visit and the cornerstone of the Church," the bishop said.
He also promised Pope Francis that Filipinos will pray for him, as he would ask them at the conclusion of his audiences during his five-day visit in the Philippines.
"Your Holiness, you are blessed. Jesus prays for you. We your beloved Filipinos unite ourselves with Jesus in praying for you to God the Father," Tagle said.
The charismatic Filipino cleric, whom observers call a "rising star" in the Church, relayed the faithful's gratitude to the Pope for his apostolic visit.
"I say, 'Maraming saamt po' on behalf of the street children, the orphans, the widows, the homless, the informal settlers, the laborers, the farmers, the fisher folk, the sick, the abandoned elderly," he said.
Audiences, meanwhile, admitted on social media that they became emotional listening to Tagle's message to the visiting pontiff.
Naiyak ako sa message ni Cardinal Tagle :')
— Park Min Gi (@ARMY_BTSfrvr) January 18, 2015 Many also noted Pope Francis' reaction to Tagle's words.
I cried when I saw a tear on Pope Francis eye during Cardinal Tagle's speech. The mass ended. I feel happy & blessed even tho its only in TV
— EXID the new bae?? (@21shidae) January 18, 2015