Anthem for Pope Francis’ visit urges Pinoys to help victims of tragedy

As Pope Francis will mostly spend his visit to the Philippines in calamity-hit areas, the official theme song for the event will highlight the need to continue helping tragedy victims.

Sung by pop singer Jaime Rivera, "We are All God's Children" will be the anthem  for Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines in January, according to a report on GMA News' “Unang Balita” on Friday.

The song, whose lyrics were penned by Rivera with music composed and arranged by Noel Espenida, urges Filipinos to show compassion and help people whose lives were shattered by the recent calamities, including super typhoon Yolanda.



An excerpt from the song:

Have you seen their homes washed by the floods?
While a mother tightly holds her child,
Do you hear the wind of the raging storm?
Can you tell them where it's coming from?

Give them back their honor and their pride
Please do not be blind and just leave them behind,
to struggle in darkness, or give them empty promises

The song, whose theme is equality, also urges Filipinos to "stand together” and “do our part, hear their voices mend their broken hearts. Choose to be brave, fight for their rights.”

"We are all God's children, we are all the same," it said.

The Pope, who is due to visit the country on Jan. 15 to 19, 2015, is expected to visit some Yolanda-hit communities in Tacloban and Palo, Leyte.

Yolanda left over 6,000 dead when it lashed the Visayas last November.

In 1995, Rivera sang one of the versions of “Tell the World of His Love,” which was used as the official theme song for the papal visit of now-Saint Pope John Paul II. About five million devotees attended the event at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park in Manila. —Amanda Fernandez/KBK, GMA News