Archbishop Villegas: Pope Francis our raincoat in the rain, our sunshine when it’s cloudy

Dagupan Archbishop and Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president Socrates Villegas, in his gratitude message, compared Pope Francis to both a raincoat and sunshine.

“You are our friend, our inspiration, our raincoat in the rain and sunshine when it is cloudy. Pope Francis, we love you,” Villegas said Sunday before the pontiff gave his final blessing during his concluding Mass at Luneta.

“Holy Father, you are our sunshine. For many days since you came, it has always been a sunrise of smiles for us Filipinos. We are not feeling the rain. You have brought us joy, you have brought us hope, you have brought us warmth. You have brought us Jesus,” he added.

VIllegas made the comments amid a steady downpour in Manila, where an estimated six million people gathered to hear Pope Francis speak.

“Please receive our message of gratitude for celebrating the Sto. Niño feast today,” Villegas told a smiling Pope.

In the same message, Villegas waxed poetic about the power of Pope Francis’ words on the faith of Filipino Catholics, calling the Holy Father’s love for Pinoys "typhoon-proof."

“The sun is now setting on Manila Bay. The romantic poets among us call the Manila Bay sunset view the most beautiful sunset in the world. Some of us are afraid of the sunset as we are afraid of the dark, but we are not afraid anymore, because yesterday in Tacloban, you taught us that love casts away all fears. Your love for the Filipino people is stronger than all typhoons; your love is typhoon-proof,” he said.

Finally, Villegas promised not to forget the pontiff’s words to spread the message of Catholic faith.

“Holy Father, when you give us the blessing tonight, we will be your lights. We will light Asia and the world with mercy and compassion of Jesus. We will light the world with the joy of the gospel,” he said. — BM, GMA News