Hinimok ng kinatawan ng Santo Papa Francisco sa Pilipinas ang mga mananampalataya na manindigan tulad nina Apostol San Pedro at San Pablo.
Ayon kay Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown, ipinamalas nina San Pedro at San Pablo ang pagiging tunay na mga tagasunod ni Kristo sa kanilang paninindigan upang maipalaganap ang Kristiyanismo gayong batid ang panganib sa buhay.
Sinabi ni Archbishop Brown na ang kanilang pagiging martir ay higit pang nagbunsod upang lumaganap ang pananampalataya na magpahanggang ngayo’y patuloy na yumayabong sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabuhay sa mga aral na iniwan ng Panginoong Hesukristo.
Ang pahayag ng arsobispo ay bahagi ng pagninilay sa pagdiriwang ng Pope’s Day kasabay ng Dakilang Kapistahan nina Apostol San Pedro at San Pablo sa Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral o Manila Cathedral.
“Indeed, both Saint Peter and Saint Paul fought the good fight and they finished their race as martyrs in Rome… According to the ancient catholic tradition, St. Peter was martyred by being crucified upside down, while St. Paul was beheaded by an executioner’s sword. This is how they finished their race. But of course, for us, as Christians finishing the race in this world does not mean coming to the end but rather arriving at a new beginning,” bahagi ng pagninilay ni Archbishop Brown.
Iginiit ng kinatawan ni Pope Francis na bahagi ng tungkulin bilang mabuting kristiyano ay ang pangangalaga sa nag-iisang tahanan para sa mga susunod na henerasyon sapagkat hindi makatarungang iwanan na lamang sa kaawa-awang kalagayan ang kalikasan at lipunan.
Panawagan ng Arsobispo sa bawat isa na pagnilayan ang dalawang ensiklikal ni Pope Francis na Laudato Si’ at Fratelli Tutti upang higit na matukoy at maunawaan ang kalagayan ng kapaligiran at lipunan.
“Pope Francis writes in Fratelli Tutti that “If we want true integral human development for all, we must work tirelessly to avoid war between nations and people. To this end, the Pope writes, “There is a need to ensure the uncontested rule of law and tireless recourse to negotiation, mediation, and arbitration” as proposed by the charter of the United Nations, which constitutes, as the Pope says “truly a fundamental juridical norm”,” saad ni Archbishop Brown.
Tagubilin naman ni Archbishop Brown sa lahat ang pananalangin sa tulong ng Mahal na Birheng Maria para sa patuloy na pamamatnubay sa simbahang katolika, at kapayapaan sa buong mundo.
“My friends in Christ gathered together in this cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, allow me to conclude by turning to her under her ancient title as the “Salus Populi Romani”, protectress of the people of Rome, of the City of Rome. Let us pray to her, to our lady, for Pope Francis on this feast day. Let us pray for the Church in the City of Rome and throughout the entire world, and let us brothers and sisters also pray for peace in these days,” ayon sa Arsobispo.
Pinangunahan ni Archbishop Brown ang Banal na Misa para sa Pope’s Day sa Manila Cathedral kasama ang Kanyang Kabunyian Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.
Saksi rin sa pagdiriwang ang mga obispo ng Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines sa pangunguna ni Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, mga opisyal ng Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference, mga pari at layko.
