Pope Francis: Pastoral visit should focus on Jesus

Pope Francis marries 20 couples, some of which were already cohabiting with each other. (Screengrab from Wochit General News footage)

MANILA – Pope Francis said that his visit should focus on Jesus not him, according to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

This was the Pope’s message to Filipinos, amid the preparations for his coming visit in 2015.

“The pope said: I hope I will not be the focus of this pastoral visit. Let Jesus be the focus of my pastoral visit,” Tagle said.

“The Holy Father wants his pastoral visit to be an occasion for us to turn to Jesus… I’m telling you this, we who will play big roles in this visit let us not lose sight of that because it came from him himself,” he told members of the media during a recollection held at the University of Santo Tomas.

Media people were reminded “to highlight the fact that when the Holy Father comes, he will bring with him the message of “Mercy and Compassion,” “Awa at Malasakit”– the theme for the papal visit. We are all products of the mercy of God. Let us focus on why he is coming here in the first place. He wants to be one with calamity survivors. He wants to spread God’s love, God’s message of mercy and compassion.  When the pope meets us, we hope to make him see a people touched by God’s mercy and living out the compassion of God.”

The recollection served as a reminder to the members of the media who will cover the papal visit to be “spiritually ready”.

Tagle said that “it is important for media practitioners covering the historic event to be spiritually ready for the coming of the pope.”

“The role of media in bringing the latest news and developments to the public is very important. It requires not only hard work and commitment but a deep sense of spirituality. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this most important, meaningful task,” he added.