Marvelous, incredible, impressive

Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican Press Office, in a press briefing, after the Quirino Grandstand’s final event, said the Papal Mass event in Luneta was “marvelous, incredible, and impressive.”

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said Pope Francis was amazed by the size of the crowd. He also said that a police official estimated the Luneta crowd at 6 to 7 million. Pope Francis’ Luneta mass was the largest Papal crowd in history, according to a Vatican official.

Upon arrival and upon departure from the Quirino Grandstand area, Pope Francis rode his jeepney popemobile and went around the crowds – blessing, waving, even shaking hands and kissing babies.

Cardinal Tagle, Bishop Mylo Vergara, and the Papal Visit Committee deserve the highest commendation for preparing the Luneta papal mass event.

Singing in the background was a 1,200-member choir, accompanied by a 200-piece symphony orchestra, led by a Franciscan father.

President Aquino and his sisters attended the Papal Mass as announced but he kept very much in the background, seated and waited below the Grandstand to greet the Pope before he boarded the popemobile.

Vice-President Jojo Binay also greeted the Pope after President Aquino.

Two hundred bishops and 2,500 priests concelebrated the Papal Mass; 5,000 lay ministers distributed communion in an orderly fashion as they stood near the 48 quadrants under a white umbrella.

Cardinal Tagle and Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan Soc Vilegas delivered closing remarks to thank the Pope for visiting the country. Gaudencio Borbon Cardinal Rosales and Cardinal Tagle read parts of mass prayers.

The Luneta Mass coincided with the feast of Sto. Niño.

Full schedule

The Pope spent his free time to receive groups who requested an audience with him.

He received 40 Jesuit fathers, Friday evening. He received the barangay officials covering the Apostolic Nunciature.

He received the father of the 27-year-old woman volunteer, Kristel Padasas, who died at Saturday’s Mass in Tacloban. She worked for the US bishops’ international relief and development agency, Catholic Relief Services, on a recovery project for Typhoon Yolanda.

After the mass for bishops, priests and religious groups at the Cathedral, he visited Tulay ng Kabataan (TNK) Foundation, a house of orphans,  in Intramuros.

Stormy weather

Pope Francis did not cancel his Tacloban and Palo schedule last Saturday in spite of the typhoon signal No. 2 hoisted over Samar and Leyte.

He left one hour earlier than scheduled and arrived at Tacloban at 8:30 a.m.

He followed the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Airbus 320 pilot Captain Roland Narciso’s advice to advance his departure from 5 p.m. to 1 p.m. Heavy winds hit the airport but his plane took off safely. A plane who took off 30 minutes later was pushed by strong winds off the runway.

Captain Narciso, Captain Alvarez and the PAL crew deserve the highest commendation.

Pope’s message

The Pope had three central themes in his four days programmed appearances.

First, his concern for the poor. He asked several times for his listeners to take care of the poor, to give donations to the poor instead of spending it for themselves.

Second, his love for children. In his homilies at Tacloban, at University of Santo Tomas (UST), and at the Luneta Mass, he spoke on the theme “We Are All God’s Children.” He stopped his convoy many times to kiss and bless children.

Even in Malacañang, the Argentinian pontiff broke security protocol to kiss and bless children of Malacañang employees. Even Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima broke protocol to have the Pope bless his one-year-old baby.  At UST, he joined the children in singing and dancing. He embraced the two street children. He stressed several times we are all God’s children.

Third, his call against corruption, injustice and inequality. He emphasized this theme at his homily at the Papal Mass at Luneta – that political leaders be outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good.

Privately, the Pope declared to Cardinal Tagle that the visit had a Filipino effect on him. He felt that the Filipinos gave him inspiration and humbled him.

We have to commend the security preparations which proved to be effective, together with concrete, plastic and wooden barriers.

This time Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP Officer-In-Charge (OIC) General Leonardo Espina deserve commendation.

But most of all, the Filipino crowds must be highly commended for their cooperation, especially the tens of thousands who offered themselves as volunteers, many of them including nuns who acted as human barricade.

Cardinal Tagle assisted by Bishop Vergara and Archbishop Villegas were all over the place coordinating the requests of the Pope with government panel, headed by Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa.

Let’s thank the Lord for a safe, successful and meaningful visit of Pope Francis with his entourage of 40 Vatican officials and 77 journalists. 

Tidbits

In his meeting with 40 Jesuit priests, he again emphasized the need for priests to be close to the poor.

At UST, he asked for prayers for Kristel Mae Padasas, the volunteer worker who died when a huge speaker fell on her.

Again, tens of thousands lined the streets in the route of the Pope’s departure for Rome. He left the Apostolic Nunciature and arrived at Villamor Airbase at 9:38 a.m. Pope Francis left the Villamor Airbase around 10:12 a.m.

The foreign journalists tagged the pontiff the title, “The Pope of Surprises.”

President Aquino, Vice-President Binay, and Cabinet members led the 800 street children and 5,000 people who sent off the well-loved pontiff at the airport.

Bon Voyage Pope Francis, the “Pope of the Poor.” Thank you for the memories.