CBCP: Keep spirit of papal visit alive even as euphoria wanes
January 24, 2015 4:49pm
As the euphoria over Pope Francis' recently concluded Philippine visit begins to wane, the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines asked the faithful to keep the spirit of the Pope's visit alive.
 
CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Socrates Villegas also issued a prayer for the Pope, to be prayed after the post-communion prayer in Masses from Jan. 22 to Feb. 22.
 
"The glow will fade slowly in the media, especially in the social media (where millions of selfies have sprouted!). But if we continue to reflect on the words he left us, if we continue to etch in our memory his loving smile, his tender of selfies embrace for the children, the sick, the elderly, the destitute; if we continue to act on his words, the glow will ever remain in our hearts, giving us the joy, the hope, the faith and the peace that comes from Jesus, our Lord, whom he brought to us in those five glorious, grace-filled, joyful, jubilant, ecstatic days in January," he said.
 
Pope Francis visited the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19 and met with enthusiasm by millions of Filipinos.
 
But, this early, Villegas said the euphoria is starting to fade as reality takes over.
 
Villegas noted controversies are already "simmering in the media pot," including the tiff between Malacañang and bishops over President Benigno Aquino III's supposedly “inappropriate” reference to bishops who criticized him while keeping quiet about the past administration’s questionable actions.
 
He also cited the "all too trivial" bashing by some netizens of a priest at the pope's Mass at the Luneta for “ministering” to the waiting crowds, he said.
 
The CBCP chief also noted focus is being "turned towards the surface and not the substance."
 
"As expected there were much interest on what the Pope ate; the type of chairs he sat on; the vestments he wore; the vehicles he rode in. Clearly the Holy Father was not paying attention to all that. All he wanted was to be nourished so he would have the strength and energy for the demands of the events, and to have the proper transport for his interaction with the people lined up in the streets that he passed by," he said.
 
Meanwhile, Villegas issued a prayer for Pope Francis, to be recited after the post-communion prayer for one month from Jan. 22 to Feb. 22.
 
He said this is in response to the pope's request to pray for him.

He said the public's response should be, "Bless and protect Pope Francis."
 
The text of the prayer is as follows:
 
That the message of Pope Francis for mercy and compassion may find resonance in the hearts of all people, we pray
 
Bless and protect Pope Francis.

That all who exercise leadership may learn to blend courage with tenderness according to the example of Jesus and reflected in the life of Pope Francis, let us pray

Bless and protect Pope Francis.

That the love of Jesus exemplified in ministry of Pope Francis for the forgotten and the neglected, the ignored and the marginalized may be lived by all, let us pray

Bless and protect Pope Francis.

That Pope Francis may continue to enjoy the grace of pastoral wisdom, of health of mind and body and of fortitude against all difficulties, let us pray

Bless and protect Pope Francis.
 
Let us pray.

Lord Good Shepherd, bless and protect Pope Francis. Safeguard the Church from all harm. Guide us in the path of truth and charity forever and forever. Amen

Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News


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