MANILA – Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito has filed a Senate resolution commending the organizers of the recent successful five-day Apostolic and state visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines.
In his Senate Resolution No. 1125, Ejercito said the Vatican City, Hole See and the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) should be commended “for uplifting the spirit of and strengthening the catholic faith of the Filipino people.”
”The recent apostolic visit of Holy Father Francis heightened the spirit and faith of Filipino people who suffered loss and the catholic community in general, through his homilies, declarations, and presence in the Philippines,” Ejercito stated in his resolution.
The senator said the inclusion of Pope Francis of not showing tiredness nor stress all throughout his visit was felt by the Filipino people.
”Notwithstanding the poor weather during his visit, Pope Francis showed enthusiasm, sympathy and concern to the Filipino people,” Ejercito said.
During his Philippine visit with the theme “Mercy and Compassion,” Pope Francis declared that Filipino culture has been shaped by the imagination of faith.
Despite the threat of tropical depression ‘Amang’, the Pope pushed his scheduled visit in Leyte on January 17 to meet the survivors and visit the areas ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013.
It was the first visit in the Philippines by Pope Francis or Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio since his election as the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church on March 30, 2013.
Last Wednesday, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution No. 1110, urging political leaders to heed the call of the Pope to live simply and in “outstanding honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good.”
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who filed the resolution, said Pope’s call is relevant since the Philippines faces the challenges of achieving inclusive growth.