Pope inspires youth
Breaking traditions.
This is what happened when Pope Francis opted not to use the pope mobile in meeting the young people from all over the world for the 14th World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 23-26.
Saying that the pope trusts the police authorities of Brazil in protecting him, the Vatican allowed the use of ordinary pope mobile, not the bullet-proof kind that is usually used by his predecessors to protect the pope from rogue elements.
The late Pope John Paul II was shot in close range by a gunman whom he had later forgiven upon his hospital recovery. He began the World Youth Day during his papacy. The beloved pope was cleared for sainthood by Pope Francis.
Thousands of young people are blessed and inspired to meet the new pope in his first-ever foreign travel upon assuming the papacy this year.
The Archdiocese of Davao sent nine delegates including the director of the Davao Archdiocesan Youth Coordinating Apostolate (DAYCA) Fr. Jemasol Ortiz. Archbishop of Davao Romulo G. Valles even asked for a special prayer in the parishes and GKK’s for the success and fruitful celebration of the World Youth Day.
Marjorie Joy Olea, one of the youth leaders of DAYCA who joined the gathering of young people from all over the world said she feels blessed to meet Pope Francis saying that when she was excited to meet the pope when the news came that she was chosen to be part of the delegates from Davao. This is her first time to join the World Youth Day.
She said she wants to impart her experience to fellow young people back in DavaoCity.
MOTHER, CHURCH
In his flight back to Rome, Pope Francis said the Catholic Church must embody Mercy and all Catholics must mirror this attitude.
“This is the time for mercy,” the pope said adding: “The Church is mother and must follow the path of mercy, and find mercy for everyone.”
The pope also said that today is the age of ‘kairos’ of mercy meaning, a Greek word for a special opportune moment.
The pope said the Church is obliged in a special way to many who are suffering because of the “not-so-beautiful witness of some priests, also the problem of corruption in the church, and the problem of clericalism, for example, which have left so many wounds, so many wounded.”
“The Church, which is mother, must go and heal those wounds,” the pope ended. (with reports from cbcpnews/@dcherald)
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