After bidding goodbye to Pope Francis, then what?
Every time we, as a nation and as a people, are visited by a Pope, starting with the late Pope Paul VI, then twice by Pope John Paul II (now Saint John Paul ), and just this week, by Pope Francis, there seems to be a pervading atmosphere of hopes, of renewed faith and much, much goodwill among the Filipinos. Every papal visit brings in some positive vibrations to the whole nation even if the Holy Father could not possibly visit each of our more than seven thousand islands. In the Vatican scheme of priorities, the church in the Philippines is given a high degree of importance because we are the only nation, outside South America, that commands Church membership of more than eighty per cent of the national population.
This visit, except for a few minor errors, has almost been flawless. It is one of the few milestones in our modern history as a nation that the whole country stood united and cooperating, across political and economic boundaries, transcending genders, regions, and social status. The papal visit, just like the post Yolanda rehabilitation efforts and similar to the EDSA I, has inspired Filipinos from all places and from all conditions across economic, social, and economic and ideological barriers. We did come together as one, even for just a few days, a few hours, a few moments. We shared the same prayers, the same hopes, the same purpose for our nation and people. For five days, we had a truly inspiring leader.
We thus should come out of such experience as a much better nation. For Pope Francis' visit has demonstrated once again that, if we have a common inspiring leader, with a shared purpose, and with a message that touches us all, then we can be truly united. We could hold hands together actually and figuratively. Indeed, the Holy Father has renewed our faith, has revived our hopes and has inspired us immensely to start focusing on others, on being more merciful and becoming more compassionate to the pains, to the sufferings and sorrows of our fellowmen. The visit challenged us to refocus our lives on convergences rather than divergences, to consider more what unites us rather than what divides us.
The people who most need this renewal of positive feelings and goodness in spirit and hearts are the politicians, the businessmen, the employers, those who have the money and the power. Politicians must now rethink their mission and vision in government. They must refocus their values and reengineer their ways in serving the people. Businessmen must consider the fair values for the money of their customers. They must produce and sell high quality of goods and services. Employers must review their wages and salaries and the working conditions of their employees. Landlords must think of the side of their tenants. And the workers and tenants must serve with honesty and hard work.
Families must reunite and address the frictions and issues that divide them. Spouses must prevent the disintegration of their marriages. Parents must examine how they mold the character of their children. Prodigal sons and daughters must return to their parents, ask for forgiveness and care for their old folks. Communities must clean their environment. Local governments must serve the constituencies with honesty and sincerity; report to the people both the good things and the bad. The people must prepare to elect better leaders in 2016. Reelect those who are really good and kick out the rascals, scoundrels, and scalawags in government. The papal visit should really make the Philippines a better home for our people, and the Filipinos a better citizenry and better Christians.
After all the ceremonies, the rituals and the celebrations, what matters most is that we have become a better nation and a better people to face the challenges of the rest of our lives.
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