The Pope gives hope

This is a hope that the coming Pope’s visit will be an opportunity for those who sow terror, even if they have no belief in God, to make his visit a safe one. Who knows, if some terrorists could be touched by his strong words, but seething to the soul, words spoken in truth, in reality.

Our Armed Forces has said that there is no threat to his life and that the AFP is prepared and always monitoring the situation. We also hope that the Pope’s coming will lessen terrorism in our country and that our evil ways will change for the better.

The threat of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) is in itself made up of religious zealots who attract the adventurous and poor youths. The ISIS has produced suicide bombers, killers who has morphed into more violent, ruthless, Jihadist, using religion as their cause.

More hope that the Pope’s presence in a short period will help change not only our state enemies, but for them to understand that Islam is a religion, not an excuse to kill. Most Catholics like us should unite in prayer that all is not lost in this present violent world because the Pope is with us in prayer. — Carlmarie B. Somoza, SPCM, Dumaguete City