Pope Francis assures Pinoys of solidarity as they consecrate PHL to Mary

Filipino Catholics received a message of solidarity from Pope Francis Saturday as they consecrated the Philippines to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"The Holy Father unites himself spiritually with you on this important occasion, praying that the Most Pure Heart of our Blessed Mother Mary may inspire all Filipinos to devote themselves through her, to Jesus her divine Son," an article posted Saturday evening on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site quoted a letter from the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone as saying.

The letter was addressed to CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, and relayed through Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto.

Catholic leaders led the national consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in cathedrals, parishes, shrines and chapels nationwide at 10 a.m. Saturday.

"He hopes that devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, beating in unison with that of her unborn child, may inspire an ever greater appreciation and attention to all human life, from conception through natural death, and lead to greater service to the poorest and the weakest, those who are closest to God himself," the CBCP quoted the message as saying.

Last Jan. 28, the CBCP declared "the holding of a simultaneous National Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on June 8, 2013, feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Palma said this is part of the celebrations marking the Year of Faith and the nine-year preparation for the fifth centenary of the coming of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.

Fight corruption

Meanwhile, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle asked people to "clean the heart of" the Philippines from corruption. 

"Corruption has no role in a country consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary," he said at his homily at the San Fernando de Dilao church in Paco in Manila, during the Mass for the National Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"Discrimination has no place in a country that is said to be consecrated to heart of Mary which is full of memories about Jesus," he added.

Tagle also stressed "callousness, greed, deceitful to oppress and destroy others has no place in a country or in a heart that says Mary, our heart is for your heart." — BM, GMA News