Vatican: Pope draws energy from ‘enthusiastic’ Filipino welcome

MANILA, Philippines – With a festive song and dance number at the military airbase and thousands of Filipinos lined up along the streets, the Philippines’ reception of Pope Francis made a “very strong impression” on the pontiff, the Vatican’s spokesman said on Thursday evening, January 15. 

Despite a long journey from Sri Lanka, the first stop of his Asia trip, the Argentine pontiff drew energy from the enthusiasm of the crowds who lined the streets to get a glimpse of him, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said in a press conference.

Pope Francis landed at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City at 5:32 pm local time. Thousands cheered and waved as he traveled from the airbase to the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila, where he will be staying until he flies out of the country on January 19.

Speaking to reporters, Lombardi said the Pope was “encouraged” by the strong show of support from the Catholic faithful.

“The Pope has received a very strong impression of the spiritual experience of your people,” Lombardi said.

He added, “The Pope said to me, the Holy Spirit will have to work with me to touch the hearts of all the people here.”

The director of the Vatican Press Office also gave assurances that the 78-year-old Francis is in good health.

On his first day in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, Francis cancelled a planned meeting with bishops. A security official said the pope was exhausted after a long journey from the airport under the heat of the sun.

‘Energized’ by the people

Although the Pope arrived in the Philippines after “days of journey and of very intense activity,” Lombardi said the Filipinos’ enthusiastic welcome gave “new energy” to the pontiff.  

“As a pastor, he takes energy from the people around him. He feels encouragements, he is helped by the faith of the people present,” Lombardi said.

“This first meeting with Filipinos will encourage him. You will have the Pope in good health,” he added.

Francis’ 5-day visit to the Philippines will include one day in Leyte province, to meet with survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and the magnitude-7.2 earthquake that hit the Visayas in 2013.

Organizers earlier said the Pope wanted his Visayas trip to be the “core” of his pastoral visit – a priority in his schedule, according to a local church official. Even with bad weather on the horizon, Lombardi did not say whether the forecasts would affect the pope’s schedule.

“We will see on Saturday what happens,” Lombardi said.

“The Pope decided to come to the Philippines to encourage and help spiritually the people who suffered and suffers still from these disasters and from all the problems in society,” he added.

From the beginning of Francis’ papacy, Lombardi said, it was “necessary” for the Pope to make the long trip to the Southeast Asian country.

“This mission is blessed by the Holy Spirit, and we hope it continues to work intensely with the Pope and with you,” Lombardi said. 

Lombardi said that the Pope is aware of the significance of his visit to Filipinos.

“The Pope [understands that] the enthusiasm he will experience here is something particular and that the entire nation will wait for a word of consolation, hope, and love. In this sense the Holy Spirit will have to work.”

Next days

With an expressive reception for the Pope on just the first day, the Vatican spokesman said they are already bracing for the next 4 days of the pontiff’s stay in the country.

“We see that we are in a megalopolis in a large town in which the majority are Catholic and enthusiasm is particularly expressive. This gives us [a] question for the next day: what will happen for the next days, [when] this is just the beginning?” Lombardi added.

The Pope is scheduled to make his first speech before senior government officials in Malacañang Palace on Friday. He will also hold his first Mass at the Manila Cathedral, followed by a meeting with families at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In Malacañang, the Pope will meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, an encounter which Lombardi said will be “personal” in nature.

“The Pope prefers to have a personal encounter. This is characteristic of Pope Francis. He likes to encounter people and to know them,” he said.

The Vatican spokesman also briefly described the “big spiritual successes” the Pope encountered in his visit to Sri Lanka.

Lombardi said the Pope was “profoundly involved” in the mission to improve reconciliation and work towards peace after a decades-long civil war on the island. – Rappler.com