MEL STA. MARIA | The Popes heart, and PNoys mind: One is with us, the other is out of touch By: Atty. Mel Sta. Maria January 17, 2015 11:38 AM Tweet InterAksyon The online news portal of TV5interaksyon/assets/images/articles/interphoto_1421387305.jpg Pope Francis is an inspiration. He was already fatigued as he arrived on January 15, and yet he has not failed his flock. Travelling at night, he patiently stood in his pope-mobile, waved his hand, smiled and blessed those who waited just to get a glimpse of him. The Church, meaning not only the clergy but all of us who are Catholics, reciprocated because we felt his goodness, simplicity and sincerity. The next day Friday, the scene was the same. Filipinos came out in full force and, despite the rain, waited for even a glimpse of him. No one, not even the most famous and popular Filipino politicians - not even Manny Pacquiao or the late Cory Aquino - could so galvanize millions of Filipinos. The Pope’s message in the Philippines is Love, Mercy, and Compassion. Among us, that should mean no bickering, no complaining, no whining, no impatience, no snide expressions. Pope Francis in the Philippines is simply a rapturous event. Seeing the Pope, even for a fleeting moment, is an occasion of joy. This is bonding time not only with the Pope but amongst ourselves. In the company of the Pope, we are one. We need occasions like this when we hear people in the streets talk only of good things, of hope, of thanksgiving and of joy. What an unforgettable experience! No doubt, these happy events with the Pope are temporary, but the timing could not be more appropriate. But talk about timing. It was good to see President Benigno Aquino III warmly welcome the Pope to Malacanang… until PNoy delivered his speech. The content and the timing of the President’s address were simply off-tangent. I had thought that, by then, the President would have already felt the joyous pulse of the people and the positive euphoria enveloping the nation. It was a momemntous occasion for President Aquino, as leader of all Filipinos, to simply convey the over-all mood of the nation. It was – is - one of unity, joy and gratitude. We are ecstatic and moved that the leader of billions of Catholics around the world found time to visit us. That singular message would have been enough for us to convey - but obviously not for President Aquino. President Aquino castigated what he understood to be the Church. He accused Filipino Catholic leaders and priests of being silent, perhaps even complicit, in the face of abuses of the past regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. PNoy said he expected the Philippine Catholic Church to be a natural ally in his campaign against corruption, but supposedly encountered only silence among the clergy. The gripe may be legitimate for President Aquino, but this was not the occasion to wear it on his sleeve. His reference about the past administration was simply out of place. He talking politics with the Pope. The President could have touched on Typhoon Yolanda and how the Pope has given a new sense of hope with his scheduled visit to Tacloban. Then his personal life came into the picture. Yes, Noynoy Aquino he had first-hand experience of the evils of the Martial Law period, and the Filipino people share the memories and scars of that period. But the Pope’s visit is not about his life and his family, it was about the visit’s blessings and the joy of the Filipino People. At that point, I believe the people wanted to hear the President express the people’s feelings and not his beliefs. The President missed an opportunity to speak for all of us. He struck a discordant note. In fact, the President might just have made himself irrelevant during this Papal visit. As our elected leader, PNoy must represent the aspirations of the people. He must be able to speak for us, relay our feelings and do it well. The President did not do it well. And so we do it ourselves. Let us continue to fill the streets and convey the message ourselves: We are overjoyed that he is here - Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ.
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 07:30:08 +0000
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