Senators urge Filipinos to put Pope Francis’ messages into action

Pope Francis prays for a sick infant with an oxygen tube at the Mall of Asia Arena.

MANILA – Senators on Monday urged the Filipinos to put into action the messages delivered by Pope Francis during the five-day state and pastoral visit of the popular Roman Catholic leader in the Philippines.

”The best gift that Pinoys can give to Pope Francis is to put his messages into action. It is now time to live out the words of the Holy Father,” Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said in a press statement.

Aquino said the Pope’s messages about social justice, solidarity with the poor and love for the other persons would inspire the Filipinos to become better persons and citizens of the country.

The Pope has appealed to the government officials and the youth to help the poor and the marginalized and “reject every form of corruption which diverts resources from the poor.”

“The Pope’s visit must inspire us to eradicate graft and corruption in government. And this needs everyone’s cooperation, vigilance and faith to make the reforms happen,” Aquino said.

Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda is hoping more Filipinos would take action against environmental degradation in response to Pope Francis’ call to care for the environment.

“Pope Francis has blessed us with many inspirational and encouraging messages including his statement on caring for the environment, and not only to take it to heart but also to put it into action,” Legarda said .

In his concluding mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Sunday, Pope Francis stressed that God created the world as a beautiful garden and asked us to care for it “but through sin, man has disfigured that natural beauty.”

”I hope we can carefully digest each message,” Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committees on environment and natural resources, and climate change, said.

Meanwhile, Aquino lauded devotees who attended the different Papal events for their discipline amid the challenging conditions.

“We laud our countrymen for their discipline, especially during the Holy Mass at the Quirino Grandstand. Your immeasurable devotion to the Holy Father and to the Catholic faith is commendable and as inspiring as well,” the senator said.