The past week has come and gone in a frenzy of color and festivities.

Pope Francis is now back in Rome, yet

Filipinos are still reeling from the almost surreal experience of seeing the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman
Catholic Church in person.
Before we get back to our lives, here are 10 quotes from the Holy Father that will help us relive the moment:
1. Reject every form of corruption which diverts resources from the poor (Pope Francis speech at
Malacaang, Jan. 16, 2015)

For months, Filipinos have speculated whether the Holy Father got wind of the large-scale corruption scandals
that rocked the Philippines in recent months. Mere days after the release of Pope Francis official itinerary,
various anti-pork barrel groups such as Youth Act Now were quick to point out the hypocritical situation that
would arise when the Pope pays his courtesy call at Malacaang.

Corrupt government officials, especially the masterminds of the pork barrel scam and the equallycontroversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) should not even dare to meet Pope Francis, Youth
Act Now Spokesperson Victor Villanueva said.
The context of such remarks springs from a famous homily of the Holy Father delivered in St. Peters Square
in 2013, wherein the Pope quoted the Bible saying, It would be better for [a corrupt man] if a millstone were
put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.
Pope Francis surely was updated on the corruption issues hounding the Philippine government. He said, As
many voices in your nation have pointed out, it is now, more than ever, necessary that political leaders be
outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good. Aquino, Vice President Jejomar
Binay, Senate President Franklin Drilon and most of the Cabinet present during the Popes speech must have
smelled sulfur when they heard the Holy Father utter those words!
2. Break the bonds of injustice and oppression which give rise to glaring, and indeed scandalous, social
inequalities. (Pope Francis speech at Malacaang, Jan. 16, 2015)

With that line, Pope Francis has created a very strong phrase that will indeed resound again and again in
various socio-political movements in the country. Scandalous inequality is truly a strong word that
appropriately describes the wide gap between the rich and the poor in the Philippines.
This quote also reveals the Popes deep understanding of the root causes of poverty injustice and oppression.
It recognizes that social inequality is rooted in the semi-feudal and semi-colonial nature of Philippine society,
where landlessness is perpetuated in the countryside, and local industries that could have provided adequate

jobs are not being developed. Anyone familiar with the Popes Apostolic Exhortation Joy of the Gospel will
quickly realize the context the Popes words that social inequality is being perpetuated by the terror of
capitalism.
3. Only by becoming poor ourselves, by stripping away our complacency, will we be able to identify with
the least of our brothers and sisters. (Pope Francis homily at the Manila Cathedral, Jan. 16, 2015)

Given the context of this quote, one might say that the Pope himself knows that the Filipino clergy, like the
clergy in Vatican and elsewhere, have grown comfortable with social exclusion, polarization and scandalous
inequality. Pope Francis has taken the helm of the papacy in the wake of scandals in the Vatican Bank, and his
choice to take the name of a poor saint reflects his advocacy to end the lavish lifestyle of Catholic priests.
Pope Francis logic is simple: how can the Church claim to be serving the poor when they dont know how to
live with barely enough money to buy the next meal? It is a resounding call for reform inside the Church
hierarchy, especially in the Philippines, where the Catholic Church itself owns vast tracks of land, corporate
stocks in major banks, and the most expensive schools.
Talking about schools, Catholic universities should indeed take to heart this line from the Pope, and remember
it come February, the season for tuition increase proposals. As Sarah Elago of the Rise for Education Alliance
says, The Pope might be shocked to know that Philippine Catholic schools are at the forefront of soaring
tuition rates. Like clockwork, schools including the University of Sto. Tomas, Ateneo de Manila, and De La
Salle University increase charges every year, even if students voice out their opposition.
4. The family is also threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of
marriage, by relativism, by the culture of the ephemeral, by a lack of openness to life. (Pope Francis
message to families at the Mall of Asia Arena, January 16, 2015)

This quote bears significance for it reminds us that even the so-called rock star Pope is, at the end of the day,
the leader of a conservative religion. The Pope can speak about the ills of unfettered capitalism and corruption,
yet we should note that this is precisely because solving poverty and inequality is within the bounds and at the
core of the Catholic faith.
However, when it comes to issues such as gay marriage, divorce, and abortion, the Pope remains to be a
staunch conservative. While the Pope recognized that the economic situation in the Philippines has caused

families to be separated by migration and the search for employment, and financial problems strain many
households, the Pope also did not mince words on putting on a bad light what he calls the redefinition of the
very institution of marriage.
5. Some of you have lost part of your families. All I can do is keep silent. And I walk with you all with my
silent heart. (Pope Francis homily in Tacloban, Jan. 17, 2015)

In times of grief, silence may indeed be the best consolation. In very short, yet evocative ways, the Pope
reminded Filipinos how a leader should connect and sympathize with his people, especially in times of
disasters. The Holy Fathers words brought tears to Typhoon Yolanda survivors, and electrified a nation whose
very own presidents way of consoling is by saying, But you did not die right?
6. Women are capable of seeing things from a different angle from us, a different eye. Women are able to
pose questions that we men are not able to understand. (Pope Francis message to the youth in the
University of Sto. Tomas, Jan. 18, 2015)

The Popes recognition of the vital role of women in society is refreshing, especially from the leader of a
Church that still relegates women to a lesser status than men. As Gabriela Secretary General Joms Salvador
says, Pope Francis has shown himself to be more progressive compared to other heads of the Roman Catholic
Church, citing the Popes statements against violence towards women, especially wartime rape as well as his
condemnation of sexual abuse committed by priests.

7. Certain realities in life we only see through eyes that are cleansed with tears. (Pope Francis message to
the youth in the University of Sto. Tomas, Jan. 18, 2015)

In this quote, the Pope reminds of the value of connecting with fellow citizens, especially in times of despair.
In a fast-paced world that is continually effacing the value of human connection, Pope Francis reminds us the
gift of genuine concern for others. For only when we put ourselves in the shoes of those who are suffering, the
marginalized and the oppressed, can we see and feel the magnitude of their misery.

8. We run the risk of becoming museums of young people that have everything but without knowing
what to do with them. (Pope Francis message to the youth in the University of Sto. Tomas, Jan. 18, 2015)

Pope Francis also issued a strong message about the pervading culture of disconnection, especially in the era
of the Internet. In so many words, the Pope reminded the youth that it is not overconsumption of information
that is the problem, but the youths reluctance to use these information to serve the people and society. As the

Holy Father says, the youth runs the risk of becoming museums treasure troves of stored knowledge that
have no value. For to have value, to have relevance, action is needed.
9. To think, to feel, to do (Pope Francis message to the youth in the University of Sto. Tomas, Jan. 18, 2015)

When Pope Francis mentioned this, he made the young audience in UST repeat the phrase three times. Why?
Because it sums up his challenge to the youth and the Filipino nation that to be catalysts of change, we must

practice what we preach. Its the Popes own version of James 2:14-26 which says faith without work is
dead.
10. Reality is superior to ideas (Pope Francis message to the youth in the University of Sto. Tomas, Jan. 18,
2015)

Those familiar with the works of Ludwig Feuerbach (or even Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels) will be quick to
recognize that this quote from the Latin American Pope captures the essence of materialism, which asserts the
primacy of the physical world over ideas. Perhaps this is the most surprising moment during the Popes visit,
for it is a break from the largely metaphysical interpretation of the Catholic faith dominant in Philippine
society.
It is also a message that carries a very practical application. As Anakbayan puts it, The Pope is telling the
youth: Wake up! Look up from your computer screens! Go out! Live with the poor and marginalized and
realize the evils and scandalous inequality that were living in right now. The Pope is calling us to be selfless
activists who are ready to leave everything to serve the people.

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