Volume Issue• •January January14, 15,2015 2015 THE THEOFFICIAL OFFICIALSTUDENT STUDENTPUBLICATION PUBLICATIONOF OFTHE THEUNIVERSIT UNIVERSITYYOF OFSANTO SANTOTOMAS TOMAS Manila, Manila,Philippines Philippines VolumeLXXXVI, LXXXVISpecial Papal Visit
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2 Francis in UST
The Varsitarian JANUARY 14, 2015
Vatican hails PH papal visit preparations THE VATICAN has lauded the country’s efforts in ensuring spiritual readiness among Filipinos in time for the apostolic visit of Pope Francis on Jan. 15 to 19, 2015. In a recollection for papal visit committee members held at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building last Dec. 26, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, papal visit committee head, said Vatican officials had learned about the recollections and “faith-inspired activities” being done in preparation for the papal visit. Tagle said Vatican officials were pleased that Filipino Catholics understand the context of the Pope’s visit. “Officials in Rome were surprised to find that the Philippines is doing preparations aimed at developing spirituality and faith. They claim it is the first time a country which will be visited by a Pope has something like this,” Tagle said. However, Tagle said cultivating one’s faith should continue even after the spiritual activities. He also noted how these spiritual preparations could apply to both the papal visit and the advent season. “Spiritual preparations should be ongoing. These activities are just the start since it is still up to the people and the parishes to maintain what they have learned and reflected upon in the recollections. Since Christmas is near, everyone is encouraged to do their own personal recollection,” Tagle told the Varsitarian. Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, chair for the papal visit committee on information and media relations, said the advent season, the preparation for the Lord’s coming, was also a reminder that a “simple, low-key” papal visit was needed. Vergara told media attendees that they should prepare for a “unique, special, and varied” encounter during the Pope’s visit that mirrors God in the person of the Holy Father. “This is an opportune time to also realize [that] Pope Francis is the Vicar of Christ on earth. [The Pope’s] visit can be seen as the visit of God to each of us,” Vergara said. DANIELLE ANN F. GABRIEL and JEROME P. VILLANUEVA
Love, compassion highlights of Leyte theme song for Pope's visit By ANGELI MAE S. CANTILLANA “MERCY,” a song about God’s grace for victims of typhoon “Yolanda,” will be the official theme song of the papal visit to the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte on Jan. 17. Composed by London-based band Ooberfuse, the song highlights God’s love, compassion, and the survivors’ restoration from massive devastation, said Cherrie Anderson, the band’s Tacloban-born vocalist. “The lives of ordinary Filipinos bear scars and emotional wounds from the devastation of typhoon Yolanda. ‘Mercy’ tries to emphasize that in spite of the worst tragedies, God’s eternal mercy and compassion will sustain us through our darkest hours,” Anderson said during the launching of the song last Jan. 9 at the Century Park Hotel. Anderson recalled the night during the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda, when she couldn’t do anything except offer prayers for the safety of her relatives in Tacloban. This inspired her band to emphasize God’s embrace in times of tragedies and weakness. Ooberfuse will perform the song live on Jan. 17 during one of Pope Francis’ encounters with typhoon survivors. The Pope will offer Holy Mass at the Tacloban Airport. Then, he will have lunch with 30 Yolanda survivors at Gonzagahaus, the Archbishop’s Residence in Palo. “It is a measure of Pope Francis’ real concern for the poor that he has chosen to offer direct consolation by visiting thousands of families,” Anderson said. The original song is in English, but the band has put together Filipino and remix versions. The band is comprised of Anderson, Hal St. John, and producer Roland Faber. Aside from Mercy, the other papal visit official theme songs are Jamie Rivera’s “We Are All God’s Children” and “Shepherd’s Love,” which was composed by Fr. Kim Margallo.
Families assured of ‘intimate’ meeting with Francis in MOA By DANIELLE ANN F. GABRIEL
Pasig Bishop Mylo Vergara talks to the media.
BASILIO H. SEPE
THE NUMBER of families to meet Pope Francis on Jan. 16 at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena will be limited to ensure a more “personal” encounter, Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, chair for the papal visit committee on information and media relations, said. Vergara said Vatican officials who visited during the first week of December specified that the area in the arena facing the stage where the Pope will deliver his message should be the only place where the families and individuals attending can be seated. “The Holy Father wants this event to be a real personal encounter. He wants the visit to be a respectful encounter in a sense that he wants families to have eye contact with him personally. As much as we want to fill the whole arena, this is what the Vatican specifies,” Vergara said in a media
briefing at the Knights of Columbus Center in Intramuros, Manila. Only 100 individuals per diocese will be chosen to be part of the event. In Metro Manila, 300 individuals coming from urban poor families will be chosen. Delegates from different ecclesial movements and associations in the Philippines will also be present. The MOA Arena will open its gates to papal visit attendees at 11 a.m. on Jan. 16. Program will start at 1 p.m. with a live feed of the Pope's trip from the nunciature to the arena. The Pope is expected to arrive at MOA at 5:30 p.m. No Mass will be celebrated but there will be readings andprayers focusing on the Liturgy of the Word. Three families were also selected to share their testimonies and experiences on the topics of poverty, migration and persons with disabilities, said Fr. Dennis Soriano, MOA Liturgist in Charge.
Gatherings, prayers best way to prepare youth By ANGELI MAE S. CANTILLANA
THE BEST way to prepare for the papal visit is by attending spiritual gatherings and prayers, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, told participants of “Win One for God,” a “pope rally” held last Dec. 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The one-day event, organized by Family Rosary Crusade, featured testimonials of faith from celebrities, such as Elmo Magalona, Gretchen Ho, Chris Tiu, Jeron Teng, Kiefer Ravena, Iñigo Pascual, and Jay Durias. Villegas said joining spiritual gatherings would lead young Filipinos to a renewal of faith, as a way to fully grasp the message of “mercy and compassion” that Pope Francis will bring to Filipinos. “What comprises majority of the people in the Philippines are the youth. So if you prepare the young people, you are also preparing the majority of the Filipino people to meet Pope Francis,” Villegas told the Varsitarian.
Usapang Uste TULAD ng naging pakay ng pagbisita ng Santo Papa Juan Pablo II noong 1995, iikot din sa kabataan ang pagdalaw ni Papa Francisco lalo pa’t ipagdiriwang ang ika-20 anibersaryo ng World Youth Day (WYD) sa kaniyang pagdating. Makalipas ang 14 na taon mula noong 1981, dumalaw muli sa Filipinas si Juan Pablo II upang makasama ang mga kabataan mula sa ibat-ibang panig ng mundo sa pagdiriwang ng ika10 WYD kasabay ng panlimang
Pope Francis is set to hold an encounter with almost 30,000 young people in UST on Jan. 18. The event will highlight stories of faith from three young people—a college student, an out-of-school youth, and a relief volunteer from Tacloban. ‘Sweet scent of Jesus’ Aiming to prepare Thomasians for the upcoming visit, Villegas called on young people to look at Jesus and recognize that humanity is “poor and in need of God’s mercy and compassion,” “See the suffering of Jesus as your own sufferings and his pains as our own pains. Look at Jesus and see how he had suffered for his love for us,” Villegas said in a pre-recorded video message shown in “A Nation of Mercy and Compassion,” a one-day theological gathering organized by the UST Theological Society last Nov. 6 at the Santisimo Rosario Parish. The best way to look at Jesus is to look at Pope Francis, he said, describing the Holy Father as as the “sweet scent and odor of Jesus.”
Eucharistic spirituality Meanwhile, a total of 673 Dominican Network (DomNet) youth members gathered to strengthen their spirituality during a pre-papal visit event dubbed “Adonai,” held at the Angelicum College in Quezon City last Nov. 8 and 9. Fr. Gerard Timoner III O.P., prior provincial of the Dominicans in the Philippines, invited “young Dominicans” to “clean the temple of God” as they prepare for the Vicar of Christ’s coming. “Next to the tabernacle, the holiest [of places] that you can find inside the Church are your seatmates and yourself. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, because by baptism, God dwells in each of us. Therefore, we should keep ourselves clean,” Timoner said in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration. The night-long gathering included different Dominican organizations such as the UST DomNet chapter. Religious organizations Living up to the Church’s call to spread the Word of God, youth members of religious organizations in the University
are preparing themselves for the papal visit. Ian Eustaquio, president of Couples for Christ-Youth on Family and Life (YFL) UST chapter, prepares spiritually for the Pope’s visit by serving his community and helping in evangelization. “As a young person who prays for the success of this event, I continue to strengthen my faith by praying to God and lifting up the upcoming encounter,” Eustaquio told the Varsitarian. Eustaquio is among the 10,000 Thomasian volunteers who will have the chance to see Pope Francis at the UST Field on Jan. 18. He will be joined by 75 more volunteers from YFL. Ian Beltran, treasurer of Pax Romana, said that aside from personal prayers, he was also preparing for the papal visit through praise and worship. Beltran said animation volunteers from UST were collaborating with the Archdiocesan Youth Commission for the rehearsal of songs. Among the songs that will be performed are “We are all God’s children,” the official theme song for this year’s apostolic visit, and “Tell the world of his love,” the official theme song of World Youth Day in 1995.
World Youth Day sa USTe International Youth Forum (IYF) noong Enero 12-16, 1995. Noong Enero 15, 1995, idinaos sa Rizal Park ang huling Misa, kung saan itinalaga ng Papa ang mga kabataan ayon sa tema ng WYD: “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” Limang milyong tao ang dumalo, halos mga kabataan. `Di naglao’y nagtala ito ng world record na pinakamalaking pagtitipon sa kasaysayan. Hindi magkamayaw ang mga taong dumalo upang makiisa sa hangarin ng pagdiriwang, lalo na ang mga kabataan. “The largest mission land of the world is in need of workers, and the Church constantly prays the Lord of the harvest to send them, to send us, to send you,” wika ng Papa sa Rizal Park. Matapos niyang mabisita ang Pangulong Fidel Ramos sa Malacañang, nagpunta siya at ang 233 na delegado ng International Youth Forum
sa Central Seminary Chapel. Nagkaroon ng Misa noong Enero 13, 1995 sa UST Seminary Chapel na naging eksklusibo sa mga delegado ng IYF. Matapos ang Misa, nagbigay ng talumpati ang Santo Papa sa 200,000 na estudyante at propesor sa UST Grandstand at Parade Grounds. Nagmula sa halos 100 na iba’t ibang bansa katulad ng Bosnia, Egypt, India, Lithunia, Ukraine, Cuba, Zaire, at Sudan ang mga kabataang dumalo na may gulang na 13-39. Nagkaroon ng dalawang kinatawan ang bawat bansa o organisasyon na inimbitahan ng Pontifical Council for the Laity, maliban sa Filipinas na nagkaroon ng walong delegado. Pinangunahan ng IYF ang WYD kung saan ibinahagi ng mga delegado ang kanilang mga karanasan at mga istorya ng pananampalataya sa kontemporaryong mundo. Naging tagapangulo ng forum
ang noo’y rektor P. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. at chief operating officer naman si Prop. Giovanna Fontanilla ng Public Alumni Affairs Office. Dahil naiintindihan pa rin ang nais ipabatid kahit hindi pare-pareho ang wika, inihalintulad ni De la Rosa ang forum sa “Tower of Babel” at “Miracle of Tongues.” Sa naganap na IYF, nakausap ng mga piling delagado ang Papa at personal na nakatanggap ng komunyon sa kanya. ERIKA MARIZ
S. CUNANAN
Mga Sanggunian: The Varsitarian Archives Tomo LXVIBlg. 8, November 29, 1994 The Varsitarian Archives Tomo LXVI Blg. 11, January 23, 1995 Nakuha 2014 mulasahttp:// papalvisit.ph/past-papal-visits/ Nakuha 2014 mulasa http://triviamatters.blogspot. com/2014/12/popes-visitsphilippines.html
JANUARY 14, 2015
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Why popes visit the University of Santo Tomas AS THE only Pontifical University in Asia, UST always has the Pope’s special attention. And so when popes visit the Philippines, UST is the place where the Vicar of Christ meets the youth, the future of the Church. Blessed Paul VI met young people at the University’s open field in 1970. Pope St. John Paul II did it twice, in 1981 and 1995. Pope Francis, the Roman Pontiff of the social media era, will follow the footsteps of his predecessors and is expected to electrify his youthful crowd on Sunday, Jan. 18. UST Central Seminary Rector Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, Jr., O.P. said the Pontifical University is the venue for youth gatherings with the Pope because it is an “institution of the youth.” More importantly, it is an institution under the Holy Father’s supervision, he said. UST’s flag carries the papal colors of yellow and white. The title Pontifical University was granted by Pope Leo XIII to UST in 1902, recognizing the Dominican-run institution’s role in spreading the gospel. Pontifical universities have the authority to grant ecclesiastical degrees in theology, philosophy, and canon law. For instilling Christian values among young Filipinos, UST was named by Pope
Pius XII as the “Catholic University of the Philippines” in 1947. The Pope and the Holy See are part of the governance structure of the campus to ensure that it plays an integral role in strengthening the Catholic faith in the country. The Pontiff appoints and confirms the rectors of the University. Names of candidates for the rectorship are sent to the Vatican for confirmation. ‘Molto bella’ Blessed Paul VI, the first pope to set foot in the country, visited UST on Nov. 28, 1970 to meet 150 bishops and priests at the UST Medicine Auditorium and address UST, the “university world of the Philippines.” In his speech, Pope Paul VI lauded the youth’s dynamism and sensitivity in their desire to involve themselves deeply in the Church. The Holy Father was impressed with the warm welcome given by UST and considered it as “contentisimo,” which means, most happy. He also described the University as “molto bella”—very beautiful. “It is a university which is one of the most renowned for the richness of its history, one of the most important in number of students and one of the most well-known for the care it
TomSpeak
What do you want to tell the Pope? Compiled by MICHAEL CARLO C. RODOLFO SINCE the election of Pope Francis to the See of Peter almost two years ago, the world has witnessed a marked change in the tone and pastoral approach of the Vatican to various issues, even as it continues the Church’s mission of leading the flock to Christ. With his visit to the Philippines on Jan. 15 to 19, Francis, dubbed as the “People’s Pope,” is set to share the love and mercy of Christ to the people of the largest Catholic bastion in Asia. But not everyone will have the chance to speak with the Pope during his visit to the country. Here are some messages for the Holy Father: "Thank you for believing that the youth is not only the future of the Church, but a beloved part of her present. Continue to inspire the youth that the mission inside our hearts may continue to be ablaze. Be one with us in prayers that we, young people, be stewards and instruments of God's mercy and compassion." -Dale Dakila, from Facebook "For someone who has been tagged as the 'Pope of the end of the world,' you brought new beginnings, more hope and love. We wish you strength as you carry on with your holy mission in leading us." -Van Eric Azul, from Facebook "Enlighten our leaders para mas maging makatao at mas maging makamahirap. Mahawakan sana ni Pope ng kaniyang pagiging pro-poor at maibigay niya ito sa mga leader." -Joselito Delos Reyes, professor "I hope that you’ll continue to teach everybody about acceptance, equality and love. One day, I hope that the Catholic Church will be known for its love and kindness as opposed to all of the negativity it is presently associated with among the youth." -Aimee Cando, student "I've almost embraced the Buddhist philosophy these past few years but you grabbed me back into the Catholic faith. Thank you, Lolo Kiko." -Geoff Buen, from Facebook "Thank you for igniting the fire in our hearts, Pope Francis!" -Jamina Bongabong, from Twitter "May the full communion of the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church be restored." -Roland Marion Vergel, from Twitter
devotes to education of high quality,” he said. More than 60,000 young people gathered anew for a prayer rally at the UST grounds during the visit of Pope St. John Paul II on Feb. 18, 1981, a month after martial law was lifted in the country. Then rector Fr. Frederik Fermin, O.P. considered the second papal visit as proof of the pope’s special love and concern for the Filipino people. John Paul cited the “cordial and generous hospitality” of the “illustrious” University. He called on students to help evangelize culture. “As Catholics yοu must confess Christ openly and without embarrassment in the university environment that is yours. In this way yοu are also contributing to maintaining the Catholic character of your University in its institutional commitment to the Gospel of Christ as proclaimed by the Catholic Church,” he said. After more than a decade, John Paul II returned to the Philippines for the 10th World Youth Day Celebrations in 1995, during which UST hosted the 5th International Youth Forum (IYF). The Pontiff was welcomed by about 200,000 youth waving yellow and white flaglets and cheering “John Paul II, we love you!” to which he replied, “John Paul II, he loves you!”
He offered Mass before IYF delegates at the St. Thomas Chapel of the Central Seminary before addressing the crowd at the UST field. The Holy Father began his speech on how special UST was in the eyes of the Pope. “As a Pontifical University, Santo Tomas has a special right to the Pope’s attention,” he told the Filipino youth. “What does the Church look for in Filipino youth? For help in saving your own generation from the futility, frustration and emptiness in which so many of your contemporaries find themselves. When I think of all the young men and women who should be the strength, the hope and even the conscience of society, but instead are caught in a web of uncertainty, or are desperately seeking happiness along paths that cannot lead to happiness – then I pray all the more that the young Catholics of the end of the twentieth century will come to an ever more profound knowledge of Jesus Christ and will be convinced of the marvelous challenge and adventure which he represents for every one of us,” Pope St. John Paul II said. Papal relics Blessed Paul VI and St. John Paul II’s visits Visit PAGE 5
No race, no religion? CBCP slams ‘misleading’ papal visit shirts THE PRESIDENT of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) voiced out his dismay over a television network's for-sale papal visit shirts that had misrepresented the Pope's statements. In a Facebook post last Jan. 5, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said one of the shirts, which states, “No Race. No Religion,” were “misleading” and “erroneous.” The shirt, which went on sale on the ABS-CBN online store last week, read, in full: “No Race. No Religion. I Embrace Diversity.” “While the words [on] the shirt attempt to convey the openness of the Holy Father, the [phrase] ‘No Race, No Religion’ are definitely misleading and quite frankly erroneous,” Villegas said. Villegas pointed out that the Pope heads "an organized religion with a vast membership throughout the world." “He has never said and taught that religion and race do not matter, because they most certainly do. It is what selfish, uncharitable and judgemental people do with religion and race that is a problem,” Villegas added. ABS-CBN spokesperson Ramon Osorio later said the network was pulling out the commemorative shirts from their online and retail partner stores, but claimed there was “no intent to deceive or mislead the public.” “ABS-CBN assures the public that there was no intent to deceive or mislead the public through the
commemorative shirts that carry statements inspired by Pope Francis’ message of love, openness, and humility,” Osorio said in a press statement. Aside from the “no race, no religion” shirts, the television network has also produced shirts stating, “Ganito ako. Ganyan ka. Who am I to judge?” Catholic netizens and groups such as Youth For Life said the “Who am I to judge” shirt also misrepresented the Pope's statements about homosexuality and should likewise be pulled out. ABSCBN pulled it out afterwards. The famous rhetorical question came out of an airborne press conference on July 29, 2013 following the World Youth Day celebrations in Brazil. Pope Francis addressed a question about the so-called “gay lobby” in the Vatican said to b e
protecting erring clergymen, and about the appointment of a monsignor with a history of sexual indiscretions to oversee the cleanup of the Vatican bank. In response, Pope Francis distinguished clearly between “sin” and “crime,” and reiterated the classic Church teaching of loving the sinner but hating the sin. He said: “If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?” "I see that many times in the Church ... people search for ‘sins from youth,’ for example, and then publish them. They are not crimes, right? Crimes are something different: the abuse of minors is a crime ... But if a person, whether it be a lay person, a priest or a religious sister, commits a sin and then converts, the Lord forgives, and when the Lord forgives, the Lord forgets and this Shirts PAGE 7
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Editor: April Joy E. Dy
THE PEOP
Pope Francis: A leader and servant Dubbed as the “People’s Pope,” Pope Francis has captured the hearts of many people for his charisma and simplicity. Through his gestures conveying a message of humility and deep concern for the poor, Francis wants to reform the Church and draw back lost souls to the fold. But this is something Jorge Mario Bergoglio has done even before ascending to the See of Peter. Childhood and clerical formation Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on Dec. 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is thus the first Pope from the Americas, or the New World. His father, Mario Jose Francisco Bergoglio, was an accountant in the Bank of Italy in Turin while his mother devoted her life taking care of him and his four siblings. After graduating as a chemical technician, Bergoglio entered the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto to pursue a priestly vocation. On March 11, 1958, he joined the Society of Jesus. He graduated with a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San Jose, San Miguel in 1963. Bergoglio handled several academic and clerical positions. He taught literature and psychology at the Immaculate Concepcion College in Santa Fe from 1964 to 1965 and at the Colegio del Salvatore, Buenos Aires
in 1966. In 1970, he obtained his degree in theology from the Colegio de San Jose. He was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 13, 1969. He was named titular bishop of Auca and auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires by Pope St. John Paul II on May 20, 1992. A few days later, Bergoglio received his episcopal ordination. He chose the phrase, “miserando atque eligendo” as his episcopal motto, which means “By Having Mercy and by Choosing Him.” On Feb. 28, 1998, Bergoglio became archbishop of Buenos Aires. He was deeply loved by the people for his simple lifestyle and openness. Bergoglio was not a fan of luxurious ways. In Buenos Aires, he was often be seen riding commuter trains and encouraging priests to be “ministers of mercy” rather than indulge in materialism. He was created cardinal by Pope St. John Paul II on Feb. 21, 2001 and was given the Titular Church of San Roberto Bellarmino. Upon his appointment, the cardinal asked the faithful to donate to the poor instead of going to Rome to celebrate his creation as cardinal. Argentinian missionary priest Fr. Luciano Felloni, who had Pope Francis as his confessor during his days as a seminarian,
remembers the simplicity and wisdom of the present Pope. “For three years, he was my neighbor, confessor and at the same time, I would attend recollections and talks given by him,” Fr. Felloni said in a phone interview with the Varsitarian. Felloni added that Bergoglio used to remind his clergy all the time to be of service to the people. “Bilang pari kailangan laging maglingkod sa tao. Ang pari ay hindi dapat laging nakakulong sa Simbahan, dapat laging umiikot at kailangang makihalubilo sa tao,” Felloni said. Felloni, who is set to concelebrate Mass with the Pope at the Manila Cathedral on Jan. 16, hopes that Filipinos will not just focus on seeing the Pope, but listen intently to his message as well. The People’s Pope Elected as Pope on March 13, 2013, Bergoglio took the name “Francis,” after St. Francis of Assisi, among the many other things in which he was the first to do. Pope Francis is also the first Jesuit Pope, having been ordained under the Society of Jesus, founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola. He is also the first pope to have been ordained priest after Vatican II.
Not a fan of limousines and big cars, the modest Pope still carries his own briefcase and continues to live at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican residence for visiting clergy, instead of staying at the Papal Apartments in the Apostolic Palace. Fr. Dave Clay, one of the concelebrants at the Manila Cathedral Mass with the Pope, describes Pope Francis as “very down to earth” and very different from the past popes. “He wants to be close to the people,” Clay said. “I just want to tell him, ‘Thank you for being so human.’ He has changed so many people. He shows his love for everybody.” Calling himself a “Son of the Church,” Pope Francis makes his stand clear on the moral issues of our time. However, he explains that the Church’s teachings should be applied with love. As the Pope says, “We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel. The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant. It is from this proposition that the moral consequences then flow.” APRIL JOY E.
DY and ARIANNE F. MEREZ
Prepare for God, not just the Pope “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” - Matthew 3:11 WITH ONLY a few days left before the papal visit, could we really say that we are prepared? When it was confirmed last Nov. 12 that Pope Francis would visit our country, people were all ears on the preparations. The announcement triggered hope and excitement. We have since been preparing to welcome the Pope. The busy atmosphere can be felt all over the country. However, we have to be reminded that this isn’t a new episode in our lives. In the past, we already had the opportunity to be graced by two other popes and had exhibited the same anticipation. With almost a year of planning, is it enough to say that we are ready? Day by day, I find it part of my routine to check on news updates on the papal visit. While progress is of no question, I am still faced with the thought on how it will boost the spirituality of the people after the Pope has returned to Rome. Writer Lourd Ernest de Veyra, in his spot.ph blog, published an open letter to the Pope last October 31, citing stories of “Yolanda victims”
and warning him of people who were bound to do everything to get “a piece of him.” De Veyra stressed on the Filipino trait of “showing visitors their best side.” This can be observed today, as most of us are heavily focused on making the visit memorable. With lack of time for personal reflection, we might as well forget the underlying message of the papal visit. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ, and Jesus is the true “star” of the papal visit. The Holy Father is coming to us with a prophetic mission—to bring Christ and spread His message of “mercy and compassion.” Surprisingly, I found someone who shared the better half of my sentiments. I had the chance to read about Michaelangelo Lobrin, an author and inspirational speaker, who believes that the spiritual visit is rendered worthless “once the Pope comes and [we] do not see Jesus in him.” The season of holidays was a turning point for me as it gave me the time and space to ponder on many matters–one of them being the upcoming visit. School was bound to start in two weeks, and it made me remember that part of the Pope’s itinerary was to visit the University for the meeting with inter-religious leaders and the youth encounter.
Even family talks couldn’t get away with the nearing papal visit. When the subject was brought over to the table, my family would say the same thing to me over and over again: “Consider yourself a very lucky man.” But with luck out of the picture, the question always surfaces if I have done my part in preparing for thePope’s visit. The papal visit in itself is a candle–with a wick waiting to be ignited. What purpose will a heavensent candle serve when people forget to light it up in the first place? We may have the “stage” adorned for the Pontiff’s arrival, but also have an audience hollow of spirit. It came to my understanding that underneath the spiritual shroud of the event is an opportunity to live out the true message of God. The papal visit is another chance, if not the start, forrenewal of faith. It is a call to arms, a break in life’s repetitive flow where we can implore God again. Nonetheless, it is only after the Pontiff’s visit where we begin to see the changes in faith that we have always longed to see.
JOSEF BRIAN M. RAMIL
PLE'S POPE Thomasians share moments with Francis The Varsitarian JANUARY 14, 2015
SOME Thomasians who had the opportunity to encounter with the Pope last year urged the Filipino youth to participate in the upcoming papal visit. Charlene Versoza, a senior nursing student, had the chance to meet the Pontiff during the UNIV 2014, an international gathering of university students sponsored by the Institute for University Cooperation in Rome last April 2014. Versoza, along with Rosario Valencia, presented in the University of Holy Cross in Vatican a research paper about Cosmos: The Ecology of Man and His Environment. While Leandro Tesorero, an AB Economics graduate, together with his colleague, Lynch Kristoffer Flores, went to Vatican last Oct. 8 to ask for the Pope’s blessing for the Work of the Saints Apostolate, a ministry composed of young lay faithful whose mission is to promote holiness through devotion to the saints and their relics. “It was exciting and nervewracking as well. Questions like, ‘Am I worthy to meet
the Pope? Am I worthy to touch him?’ came into my mind but I felt no judgment in his eyes,” Versoza said, who is also the Central Pax Romana president. Tesorero said they were only given 30 seconds to talk with the Pope, however, the Pope stayed and exchanged dialogues with them for 10 minutes. “When our turn came, I immediately recited the 30-second speech we have prepared in Italian, but to my surprise, he was still there when I finished,” Tesorero said. “I was able to show him the album documenting our activities and our version of a calendar with pictures of saints on each of their feast days. Both Thomasians emphasized the role of the youth to the new evangelization and encouraged them to take part in the papal visit. “We, young people, should know our right and our capabilities. We are the ones who have the energy to meet other people and to influence, guide and remind them,” Versoza said. “For me, knowing your faith is not enough.
You should live it and so you can become a living witness of it and grow as a better Christian.” Versoza also mentioned that we should fully prepare ourselves with a childlike-heart for the coming of the Pope. “It’s not about his popularity, it’s not about getting a photograph with him, so that you will be famous, as well. He is visiting us to remind us that God is with us. Be childlike not childish. Be excited because you are sincere and genuine.” Meanwhile, Tesorero wishes that the papal visit will become a driving force to become active in the Church and society. “Life as a Christian is not an individual life, but to be involved with others. This papal visit should encourage everyone to listen to the word of God and the voice of God.” ‘Pope of the people’ One thing common about Versoza and Tesorero’s encounter with the Pope is that they felt the love radiating from the Pope.
Photo courtesy of NBC News
Francis’ vestments mirrors simplicity THE POPE's call for simplicity not only echoes in his preaching but in his style as well. As one of the two official seamstresses of the papal visit in the country, the Congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph's Talleres de Nazaret in Quezon City, considered Pope Francis' minimalism in preparing four sets of vestments for the papal visit. "Pope Francis has always been distinguished with humility and simplicity," said Mother Maria Flor Perez, directress of the congregation. The Pope's liturgical clothing is composed of three elements–the miter or the headdress, the chasuble or the outer vestment, and the stole, a band of cloth worn over the shoulders. The miter is the priestly headcovering worn by bishops during liturgical rites, while the chasuble is the long poncholike garment worn on top of the stole, which is the “symbol of the clerical office, immortality, and the yoke of Christ.” Talleres de Nazaret fashioned three miters for Pope Francis, all white and adorned with intricate embroidery. One of the miters has white floral pattern on its outlines, with 'JHS' inscribed on the middle, fettered by brown bamboo. The design signifies the Pope's Jesuit association.
Four stoles were designed for the Pope, each one to be used in his different destinations. Perez said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) invited them to sew the vestments as early as July, but they were initially reluctant about it. “In the beginning, we were not enthusiastic about it because we have so many orders and we might not finish,” she said. “But then they insisted, and so we accepted. We were tasked to make 1,500 stoles for the priests, 250 miters and chasubles for the bishops, and Pope Francis' vestments.” The CBCP decided on the designs among the many others Talleres de Nazeret has to offer. The workload was divided with another tailor shop, Disenyo Sagrado, based in Bulacan. KRISTELLE ANN A. BATCHELOR
and ELYSSA CHRISTINE A. LOPEZ
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Leandro Tesorero shows the Pope's framed skull cap.
“Even if he is a high one, he humbles himself to serve us, to meet us and touch our lives; not just to meet us but to be an example to everyone,” Versoza said. “He doesn’t have a commanding stature. He is the Pope but he is also our brother, father, friend and he will be there for us whatever happens.” Tesorero also recalled the moment he met the Pope with passion and endearment. For him, having a
Visit FROM PAGE 3 are remembered through relics preserved in the UST Museum and Central Seminary. Pope Francis canonized John Paul II in April 2014 and beatified Paul VI in October 2014. There are two classes of relics, the first and the second classes. Firstclass relics are those that come from a saint’s body, while second-class relics are material things a saint used. One of the second-class relics found in UST are the vestments worn by St. John Paul II when he offered Mass at the University in 1995. Another is his papal chair that is displayed at the UST Museum. The Central Seminary holds custody of the vestments, which includes a chasuble and an inner stole. Blessed Paul VI gave symbolic gifts to the University: a gold chalice and a gold ciborium, signifying the unity of the Church with the youth. Bro. Dave de la Cruz, organizer of the “Totus Tuus” tour of relics of St. John Paul
NAZZI M. CASTRO
personal encounter with the Pope felt like an embrace of God’s love. “I realized that he truly loves us. He will not make you feel as if you are a stranger. He will give his attention to you. He will dedicate his time and he will definitely listen,” Tesorero said. “The way he talks is very down to earth and experiential. He is a pope of gestures because he’s really into action.” JELINA ANNE S. BUNAGAN and MONE VIRMA GINRY P. GUMAPAC
II, said a pope’s visit should be viewed as a blessing more than anything else. “It is a gift of presence of the Pope and the gift of a challenge to set the world on fire through the gospel and truth as what the venerable Dominican fathers instill in every student,” De la Cruz said. ARIANNE F. MEREZ and KARL CEDRICK G. BASCO
6 Francis in UST
The Varsitarian JANUARY 14, 2015
Editorial
The message of Francis ONE CATHOLIC apologist got it right when he said that it’s not a rock star who’s coming to visit the Philippines this week, but the “Rock.” Pope Francis is the successor of Peter, the rock on which Christ built His Church. Francis will probably be the first to frown upon seeing how some have tried to make this apostolic journey solely about his personality, despite injunctions from himself and other Church leaders to keep the focus on Christ. The public, and the media’s, preoccupation for celebrity is probably what’s feeding into numerous false ideas and statements attributed to the Argentine Pope. Last month, the country’s top TV network had to pull out shirts saying “No race. No religion. I embrace diversity” after backlash from Catholic netizens. Another shirt that says “Ganito ako, ganyan ka. Who am I to judge?” was pulled out much later. Those who haven’t followed the Holy Father closely can easily fall prey to efforts by some sectors to try to hijack the Pope’s message and advance their agenda. The papal visit should be the occasion for Filipino Christians to discover Pope Francis’ message and rediscover their Catholic faith. No religion? Just last Sunday, during the Feast of the Lord’s baptism, Pope Francis said in his homily: “Teach your children that there can be no Christian outside of the Church, you cannot follow Jesus Christ without the Church, because the Church is a mother, and makes us grow in love with Jesus Christ.” These are tough words. Pope Francis’ famous rhetorical question “Who am I to judge?” has lost its context and has been appropriated by various quarters to mean practically anything, thanks to media’s shallow reporting on the papacy and Church affairs in general. The statement came from an airborne press conference in 2013 following the successful Rio World Youth Day festivities. Francis was asked why he appointed a cleric with a record of sexual indiscretions to a sensitive Vatican post. His answer was classic Christian teaching on giving sinners, which we all are, second chances preconditioned on repentance. “If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge him?” To be sure, Jorge Mario Bergoglio is a pope who is not afraid to shake things up. He will not preach to the choir. His Christmas message to the Curia was a listing of their “sins.” The Holy Father is critical of cardinals and bishops who live like princes, and priests whose rooms look like bachelor’s pads. He disdains those who live double lives, and those who insist solely on the application of dogmas without offering concrete and pastoral solutions. His message: being Christian is not easy, and we should help and pray for one another. Pope Francis may yet turn his popularity into a potent force for good. Many Christians who have Editorial PAGE 7
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SARAH MAE JENNA A. RAMOS GRACELYN A. SIMON RALPH JOSHUA D.R. HERNANDEZ Editorial Board GENA MYRTLE P. TERRE News Editor LORD BIEN G. LELAY Assistant News Editor PAUL KENNEDY A. LINTAG Sports Editor ANDRE ARNOLD T. SANTIAGO Special Reports Editor JUAN CARLOS D. MORENO Features Editor JONELLE V. MARCOS Patnugot ng Filipino APRIL JOY E. DY Witness Editor HEDRIX AR-AR C. CABALLE Sci-Tech Editor KRISTELLE-ANN A. BATCHELOR Circle Editor MICHAEL CARLO C RODOLFO Online Editor KENO CARLO C. ENRIQUEZ Art Director JOHN PAUL R. AUTOR Photography Editor News Dayanara T. Cudal, Arianne F. Merez, Bianca Kristin A. Taray, Jerome P. Villanueva, Roberto A. Vergara, Jr. Sports Angelica P. Abello, Karl Cedrick G. Basco, Delfin Ray M. Dioquino, Josiah Darren G. Saynes Special Reports Mary Grace C. Esmaya, Mary Gillan Frances G. Ropero Features Jelina Anne S. Bunagan, Mone Virma Ginry P. Gumapac Literary Josef Brian M. Ramil, Alpine Christopher P. Moldez Filipino Erika Mariz S. Cunanan, Maria Koreena M. Eslava, Kimberly Joy V. Naparan Witness Angeli Mae S. Cantillana, Danielle Ann F. Gabriel, Marie Danielle M. Macalino Science and Technology Maritz L. Lubo, Rhenn Anthony S. Taguiam Circle Elyssa Christine A. Lopez, Ethan James M. Siat, Aliliana Margarette T. Uyao Art Jean Helene C. Estella, Ma. Aurora A. Gonzalez, Kirsten M. Jamilla, Ava Mariangela C. Victoria Photography Nazzi M. Castro, Alvin Joseph Kasiban, Basilio H. Sepe Editorial Assistant Julius Roman M. Tolop
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Pope still influential despite misinterpretation THE MOMENT “Habemus Papam” was announced at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to declare Francis as the new Pope, he has been in the center of the media spotlight. In fact, it seems that the media love the new Pope so much that they sometimes put his statements out of context and misinterpret his messages, often describing Pope Francis as a liberal who might even change Church doctrines. Huffington Post, an American online news outlet, once even hinted that the Pope said atheists would go to heaven as long as they did good. Meanwhile in the Philippines, media network ABS-CBN released t-shirts for sale containing quotations wrongly attributed to the Pope such as “No race, no religion” and “Ganito ako, ganyan ka. Who am I to judge?” The shirts were pulled out after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines warned the public about the misleading message. Such is the tendency of people to look at His
His ways of simplicity and humility are basic Catholicism. The only difference is that with Francis as Pope, the Church is never on a pedestal [...] Holiness as progressive, that when a “Vatican III hoax”— where Francis allegedly said the Church is big enough for pro-life and pro-choice, and welcomed women to be ordained priests, among others—spread online on December 2013, many unhesitatingly believed the news. But it's not difficult to see that the Pope is one-ofa-kind. I have yet to see a comment against the Pope in social media. If there are any, they are surely outnumbered by the millions he has inspired. He left the world in awe when he prayed in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, facing Mecca, on November 2014 after calling for an
inter-religious dialogue to end Islamist extremism. The Catholic Church itself did not escape His Holiness as he reprimanded the Roman Curia during his Christmas message last year. Finally, his simple lifestyle is enough to touch lives, nonCatholics included. To accept that Pope Francis is bound to revolutionize the Catholic Church is not just easy, but also naïve and escapist as we try to shake ourselves off the old teachings of Jesus Christ that supposedly tether us from freely wallowing in our sins and vices. In an era of widespread relativism, we really need a Pope to keep up with
modernity and perhaps that is what the media are trying to turn the Pontiff into. But it does not always have to be a Pope willing to flip the Church dogma to fit the worldliness of our time. In fact, there is nothing new with the teachings of Pope Francis if one looks closely. His ways of simplicity and humility are basic Catholicism. The only difference is that with Francis as Pope, the Church is never on a pedestal but within arm’s reach of the faithful. With or without the media hype, the Pope will be as celebrated as he is now because of his humility. As the Pontiff sets foot in the Philippines for a fiveday apostolic and state visit, the media is all eyes and ears on every update on this historical event. It is not the extensive media coverage, however, that makes Filipinos want to see Pope Francis: it is the opportunity to be in the presence not only of His Holiness who has become an example for us Catholics, but also God who he serves, and who we should celebrate above all.
Focusing on theme of the papal visit IN JULY last year, the Vatican officially announced that Pope Francis would embark on an apostolic visit to the country on Jan. 15 to 19, 2015. After the announcement, social media, which is the fastest way to disseminate updates, was filled with news of excitement from netizens. Nonetheless, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ reminded the public that the best way to prepare for the visit was to strengthen one’s spiritual life. The leaders of the Church foresaw the buzz that the visit would create; prompting them to reiterate that the Pope would be coming foremost for the earthquake victims and victims of typhoon “Yolanda” in Leyte. Further fueling the uproar was when the official itinerary for the Pope’s visit was released last Nov. 15. Everyone wanted to see and interact with the Holy Father. Who wouldn’t? But the people might be missing the true essence of his coming, as the Vicar of Christ, which is to bring the message of mercy and compassion.
Instead of dwelling on the aesthetical preparations, it would be better to promote efforts on helping the poor and afflicted. Compared to the past papal visits, the one Francis wants is a “simple and low key trip,” a mirror of his personal character. Pope Francis is known for living a simple lifestyle. When he was bishop of Buenos Aires, he was often seen travelling by bus, living in an apartment and cooking his own dinner. Upon his election to papacy on March 13, 2013, the Pope retained his humble stature. He encouraged the establishment of Church for the Poor, a community of Christians who open their hearts to the needs of others. “Each individual Christian and every community is called
to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society. This demands that we be docile and attentive to the cry of the poor and to come to their aid,” Pope Francis said in his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (No. 187). As he visits the country, the challenge for us is to emulate the Supreme Pontiff. Instead of dwelling on the aesthetics, it would be better to promote efforts on helping the poor and afflicted. The Holy Father would surely appreciate if Filipinos would live by his message of mercy and compassion. Archbishop Socrates
Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, encouraged the faithful to be merciful. “The most distinctive way to prepare for the coming of Pope Francis for the Philippines is to become people rich in mercy. Let us make mercy our national identity,” he said in a pastoral letter last July 7. “We encourage you our dear people to resolve to make an act of mercy everyday.” Simple acts of giving, sympathizing with others and extending continuous aid to the victims of the recent calamities can best exemplify the Holy Father’s message. As the new year starts, why not include in one’s new year’s resolution promises of turning material clamors to ways in nurturing one’s spiritual life? The new year should be an opportunity to foster lifelong commitments to live as true Christians. May the Holy Father be not only a prime personality that would visit the country but mirror of mercy and compassion.
JANUARY 14, 2015
The
Varsitarian Francis
in UST 7
Lost in translation? What Francis is really saying NEARLY two years after being elected Pope, Francis has earned worldwide acclaim for his pastoral approach to Church and social issues, earning him titles such as the “People’s Pope” and “Reformer” of the Catholic Church. However, media reports continue to claim that the Church under Pope Francis is relaxing its stance on headline issues such as homosexuality, atheism, and the science of evolution, using the Pope’s own words. For Fr. Conegundo Garganta, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)-Episcopal Commission on Youth, media’s propensity to quote the Pope out of context should serve as reminders to Catholics to be more knowledgeable about the Church’s teachings, to avoid misinterpretations. ‘Who am I to judge?’ Pope Francis was said to have changed Church teachings on homosexuality, after addressing a question about the “gay lobby” in the Vatican. “If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?” Pope Francis said in a press conference aboard a flight back to Rome after the celebration of the 29th World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 29, 2014. However, Pope Francis was actually pointing out that homosexuals should be respected and not marginalized, referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). “The problem is not having this tendency, no, we must be brothers and sisters to one another,” he said.
The Church is against “homosexual acts,” not “homosexual people and orientation,” the CCC states. The CCC further explains that homosexual people must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. “Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives,” it states. This was echoed by Fr. Dave Clay, CBCPEpiscopal Commission on Family and Life assistant executive secretary, who reiterated that the Catholic Church does not condemn gays and lesbians. “The Church has no problem with gays and lesbians. We are not going to condemn them. We are here to help,” Clay said in a previous interview with the Varsitarian. Opposing homosexual acts and samesex marriage only means respect for the “true meaning” of marriage, he added. “Not allowing them to get married is not discrimination. It is not God’s plan for two men or two women to get married,” Clay said. “If two men or two women want to be together and live together as a couple, it is up to them. But I’m not going to call it a marriage.” ‘God’s mercy has no limits’ Aiming to reach out to atheists and nonbelievers, Pope Francis wrote an open letter to La Repubblica, an Italian daily, in response to the questions of its atheist editor, Eugenio Scalfari. According to Pope Francis, God does not condemn those who do not believe and do
not seek faith, but is inviting them to ask for forgiveness. “God’s mercy to humanity has no limits, if he who asks for mercy does so in contrition and with a sincere heart,” Pope Francis said in the letter last Aug. 7. After this statement was published by the Italian daily, headlines like “Pope Francis says atheists who do well are redeemed, not just Catholics,” and “Pope lets atheists off the hook,” appeared in various online publications. But Garganta said the Pontiff’s remarks should not be misinterpreted as if Pope Francis was liberalizing Church doctrines, because the statements were actually based on the catechism. “When Pope Francis gave the statement, I can affirm that he is coming from a wealthy pastoral experience that is basically supported by his knowledge of the Word of God,” Garganta said. He added that Pope Francis’ statement on atheists should not be interpreted as a way of being saved, noting that even a baptized Catholic should recognize Jesus as a savior to be saved. “Those are selective interpretations. One can perceive that doing one good action is enough, but it is not. This salvation is based on a relationship of knowing God,” Garganta said. Science and Religion Following an address to the Pontifical Academy of Science in Rome last Oct. 28, Pope Francis was again accused of beginning another revolution on Catholic doctrine.
This was after Pope Francis claimed that the theory of evolution and the Big Bang Theory, which was proposed in 1927, do not contradict the divine act of creation. Rather, “it requires it.” The Big Bang Theory, hypothesized by Jesuit priest Georges Lemaitre, states that the universe was born after a cosmic explosion about 13 billion years ago and has evolved since. According to the Pontiff, belief in both the creation theory and the theory of evolution are consistent with the Catholic faith, noting that God should not be regarded as a “magician,” who could make everything possible by waving a wand. “Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve,” Pope Francis said. “When we read about Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God as a magician. But that is not so. He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that He gave to each one so they would reach fulfilment.” According to Cardinal Mar Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, the Pope’s statements on the origin of universe did not break any Catholic belief because it has long been affirmed in Humani Generis, an encyclical written by Pope Pius XII in 1950. “Neither the theories on evolution nor Big Bang Theory stands against the teachings Continue BELOW
Improved relations sought after inter-religious meet with Pontiff THE NEW year seeks to mark improved relations between leaders of different faiths. This is what inter-religious dialogue leaders vow to prioritize even after the ceremonial handshakes and photo ops with Pope Francis on Jan. 18. Ten leaders representing different religions and denominations are set to meet Pope Francis at the University’s Arch of the Centuries. One representative of the academe in the inter-religious dialogue, Lilian Sison, former dean of the UST Graduate School, said the fleeting personal encounter between Pope Francis and the religious leaders is an opportunity to learn more about “respect and peace.” Sison said “unity” among religions is the main point of the encounter with the Pope. “Inter-religious dialogue is an instrument for peace building. In conflict areas around the world, some use religion as an excuse. The people need to know how to work together despite difference in faith,” she said. Sison added that she is happy her work in inter-religious dialogue is one that is supported by the Vatican. Having met Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI in the past, Sison said meeting the Pope is something she will not get used to. “You just feel mesmerized when you are in front of him. It's like you see a halo around his head and then parang natulala ka na lang eh,” Sison recalled. Seeing the Pope made Sison realize how blessed she was as a person. “No matter how short the encounter is, the fact that you are upclose and personal with him, it is already a very blessed event.” Being the only woman in the
Continued FROM ABOVE of the Church as far as the faithful is concerned,” Alencherry said in a statement. “He just explained that God created living and nonliving beings and let them develop according to God’s internal laws.” Article 36 of the 1950 encyclical states that there is no conflict between the dogma of the Catholic Church and the theory of evolution, provided that Catholics believe that the human soul was created by God. Alencherry added that despite numerous attempts to interpret evolution at different times, there is no doubt that the origin of the universe and man is God. Challenge to the faithful During the first anniversary of
Aglipayan Church Leader Ephraim Fajutagana narrates his optimism with the upcoming meeting. JOHN PAUL R. AUTOR
roster of leaders, Sison has more than her fair share of local and international feats in the field of interfaith dialogue. These include her being the secretarygeneral of the Religions for Peace Philippines since 2008 and director of the University’s International Relations and Programs Office in 2014. However, Sison said she still would like to ask for a blessing from the Pope to be able to continue her work. “I would just like to ask him for blessing that I may be able to complete my work, to be motivated to work for the common good and be able to make a difference in the communities I serve,” she said. Sison reminded that the challenge
after the Pope leaves is for everyone to go out of their comfort zones in knowing and understanding other people of different religion. “We have to open our hearts to people of other faiths so that we could work towards the common good. The way I see it, sometimes when we see Muslims, there is already a negative connotation. It shouldn't be that way, they are persons too,” she said. “What happens when the ASEAN integration starts, Christians are a minority then. We are on the losing end if we do not improve our cultural quotient.” A Church leader who will meet the 78-year-old-pontiff, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Supreme Bishop
Ephraim Fajutagana echoed Sison, saying feelings of animosity should stop not only among the flock but also among the shepherds. Fajutagana said he hopes the visit of Pope Francis will bring about a new mindset to religious leaders who are fond of bickering with one another over other denominations. “I hope we let go of all the fighting. Let us work together rather than bash each other in TV or radio stations. We preach about understanding and healing so let us practice it within ourselves,” Fajutagana said. The Aglipayan Church leader, who is in his third year as the leader of the IFI (Philippine Independent
his papacy, Pope Francis clarified the misinterpretations brought about by the mainstream press, noting that he was not about to change Catholic doctrines. “The object is not to change the doctrine, but it is a matter of going into the issue in depth and to ensure that the pastoral ministry takes into account the situations of each person,” the Pope said in an interview on March 5, 2014 with Corriere della Sera, an Italian news agency. Garganta reminded the faithful of the importance of knowing the faith. “There really is a challenge for a Catholic to know his faith, so we need to learn it. We should not always depend on what a bishop or the Pope says,” he said. “The challenge for all of us is that when someone comes to us, there is an expectation that we will be able to give an answer to questions about faith.” ANGELI MAE
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is very important for our lives,” he said. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Francis pointed out, teaches that homosexuals should be respected and not marginalized. “The problem is not having this tendency, no, we must be brothers and sisters to one another,” he said. Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, chairman of the Papal Visit Committee on Information and Media Relations, urged Filipinos to be more responsible in patronizing merchandise related to the papal visit. Vergara said anyone could sell merchandise in preparation for Pope Francis’ visit, but these should be used for proclaiming the Gospel. ANGELI
gone astray are taking a second look at the Church and now feel more welcome. His openness has garnered him the adoration of the youth. Here is a Pope who understands, one who does not hide behind the walls of the Vatican and instead readily embraces those who seek the Lord. “The object is not to change the doctrine, but is a matter of going into the issue in depth and to ensure that the pastoral ministry takes into account the situations of each person,” Pope Francis said in an interview last March 5 with Italy’s Corriere della Sera. With Francis, the very top of the Church hierarchy is stepping down from the pedestal to actively
S. CANTILLANA
MAE S. CANTILLANA and GENA MYRTLE P. TERRE
Church), shared that he was surprised after being informed of his involvement in the dialogue with the Pope but he feels honored to receive the historical invitation. “I feel very honored and privileged considering that IFI is not very popular to the Pope but thanks to our friends from the Roman Catholic, we are given an opportunity like this,” Fajutagana said. If by some chance, the 15-minute meet and greet turns into a long indoor discussion, Fajutagana hopes to bring up issues on strengthening the bond between Philippine Churches in order to avoid “crises” in the country such as human trafficking, injustice, poverty and corruption. “To be able to apply and practice the acts of mercy and compassion, even after the Pope returns to Vatican, will be the ultimate accomplishment,” said Fajutagana. “I do hope that whatever we would be able to talk about in the meeting and after, it will bear fruit. I hope that there is practice not only on the part of the people, of government officials but also for the Church leaders,” he added. Despite spearheading efforts in relief distribution in typhoonstricken areas and conducting stress management and counseling to schools in Mindanao, Fajutagana vows to be more active in visiting people in the faroff areas of the Philippines as much as he can. “Pope Francis shows service through his visits. I would also like to further reach out and visit. These visits are not in the well-off parishes but in the areas where no one hardly visits.” DANIELLE ANN F. GABRIEL and MARIE DANIELLE M. MACALINO
seek those who are confused and abandoned—actions needed at a time when technology poses as a rival to the proclamation of the Gospel. That a pope is visiting UST for the fourth time sends a message to the Thomasian community to take seriously the mission of a Pontifical University to help the Holy Father spread the Gospel. A Catholic university is “born from the heart of the Church,” and amid an increasingly secular society, should stand as a witness to the truth offered by Christ through his Church. As he visits the country, we can only expect more of the so-called “Francis effect.” But it is important to be reminded that Pope Francis is only an instrument of God. It is not about who leads the flock, but how the flock learns to stand for the faith as it fights the daily struggle for holiness.
8 Francis in UST
The Varsitarian JANUARY 14, 2015