MANILA, Philippines — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle vowed before Pope Francis on Sunday that Filipinos want to go with him as he leaves on Monday.
"Not to Rome," Tagle clarified. "But to the peripheries—to the shanties, to prison cells, to hospitals, to the world of politics, finance, arts, sciences, culture, education and social communications."
Tagle acknowledged the pope's call for Filipinos to be "outstanding" missionaries of the faith in Asia.
"We will go to these worlds to bring the light of Jesus, Jesus who is the center of your pastoral visit and the cornerstone of the Church," the bishop said.
He also promised Pope Francis that Filipinos will pray for him, as he would ask them at the conclusion of his audiences during his five-day visit in the Philippines.
"Your Holiness, you are blessed. Jesus prays for you. We your beloved Filipinos unite ourselves with Jesus in praying for you to God the Father," Tagle said.
The charismatic Filipino cleric, whom observers call a "rising star" in the Church, relayed the faithful's gratitude to the Pope for his apostolic visit.
"I say, 'Maraming saamt po' on behalf of the street children, the orphans, the widows, the homeless, the informal settlers, the laborers, the farmers, the fisher folk, the sick, the abandoned elderly," he said.
Audiences, meanwhile, admitted on social media that they became emotional listening to Tagle's message to the visiting pontiff.
The Philippine Star
