Pope gets grand welcome.

Manila, Philippines, October 24, 2014 - In his fifth trip and his first to this country, Pope Francis called on the people to "see the world around you through the eyes of Jesus Himself.

Looking less fit than his previous pastoral and state visit of deceased Pope John Paul II in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Sri Lanka 19 years, 11 months and 30 days ago on January 12 to 21, 1995.

Addressing the crowd from a specially-built stage on the tarmac, the pope said, “The Filipino people are never far from my mind and heart, and I reach out to embrace each one in esteem and affection.”

Pope Francis called on the people to reflect the theme of the anniversary celebration of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much moreshall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,  whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”

When the Pope ended his short speech with “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” the crowd went wild waving handkerchiefs, pennants and flags.

In an unprecedented move, Pope Francis approached the schoolchildren, garbed in native costumes and who had come to dance for him, instead of boarding the popemobile as scheduled.

Security measures went awry as people took the opportunity to move near the pope and receive the blessing. Finally boarding the specially build vehicle an hour after he arrived, the Pope took a Moment to raise his hands before members of the joint Vatican and Presidential Security Group guards closed the door.

Until he arrived at the Papal Nunciature 50 minutes later, the aging pontiff continued to wave to the throngs who braved the heat to greet him along Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Avenue and Taft Avenue.

Throngs of Roman Catholic faithful waved flags and shouted “Viva Il Papa!” as the pontiff made his way to the Apostolic Nunciature, his official residence for his five-day stay in Manila.

Travelling along the designated route from the Old Manila International Airport in Pasay City to the Nunciature in Taft Avenue, Manila the 76-year-old Pope was met each time with huge crowds who circled his specially made, bullet-proof “popemobile”. So thick were the crowds that what would have been a 15-minute trip stretched to 50 minutes. In some areas, the crowd may have 30 to 40 deep, barely allowing the Papal convoy passage.

On his arrival, the Pope addressed the youth and invited them “…to [s]ee the world around you with the eyes of Jesus himself! The Gospel says that when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

The Pope had arrived as scheduled at 2:57 p.m. on board an Air Alitalia Airbus. He paused to greet the Airport crowd before being accompanied down from the plane by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila and Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines.

The Pope was met by President Bengino S. Aquino III and his sisters, Maria Elena Aquino-Cruz, Aurora Corazon Aquino-Abellada, Victoria Elisa Aquino-Dee and Kristina Bernadette Aquino-Yap, who were the first to greet them officially.

The National Anthems of the Republic of the Philippines and Vatican City State were played as he went through the cordon of honor and greeted Filipino officials and members of the diplomatic corps.

Among those on hand to welcome Pope Francis on his first visit were Philippine Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Philippine Ambassador to Vatican Mercedes Arrastia Tuason.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were also among his first welcomers.

WELCOME CEREMONY: ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS, POPE FRANCIS (Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Thursday, October 23, 2014)

Dear President Aquino, Dear People of the Philippines,

1. I thank you, Mister President, for your kind words of welcome, full of the warmth and hospitality with which Filipinos traditionally welcome their guests. I greatly appreciate all that you and your Government have done to make this visit possible. For a long time I have looked forward to stepping on to Philippine soil once more. The Filipino people are never far from my mind and heart, and I reach out to embrace each one with esteem and affection. We are indeed old friends, ever since assumed as a pope on March 13, 2013.

2. My Brother Bishops, Cardinal Rosales and Cardinal Palma, and all the Bishops – whom I gladly greet in the Lord – expressed many times their wish for the Successor of Peter to share the joy of Filipino Catholics on the Fourth Centenary of the Archdioceses of Manila, Cebu, Caceres and Nueva Segovia. I am here to celebrate with the Catholic community of the Philippines four hundred and twenty years of the organized and hierarchical presence and action of the Church in these Islands. That first evangelization has produced enduring fruits of Christian life and holiness, of civilizing action, of the transmission – especially through a strong family life – of fundamental human and civic values. As the next presidential administration approaches, we should all be convinced that those fruits can thrive even more in concerted action by all sectors of society, in the building of a nation resolutely set on the path of genuine and integral development, and fully committed to the wellbeing of all its citizens, with special concern for the weakest.

3. The thought of celebrating the annual founding anniversary of the Evangelical Charismatic Christian renewal religious group “Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide”, founded by activist and Evangelical Born Again Christian religious preacher Bishop Bro. Eddie Villanueva, in the Philippines, in Asia, has gladdened me and given me encouragement. The Spirit of God has led thousands of young men and women here and they are now filling the streets of Manila with their youthful joy and Christian witness. A large group of them are right here. I greet each one of you: I warmly embrace every person here, all the people of the Philippines, and all those who have come from other countries and continents. At Rio, Brazil, during the 29th World Youth Day outside Rome, we meditated on the “new life” which comes from Jesus Christ: “Go and Make Disciples of All Nations” (Matthew 28:19). Now, here in Manila, we gather to hear him say: “Pursue Peace and Be Holy, Without Which No One Can See God” (Hebrews 12:14). During these days we shall reflect on and pray about what these words mean for each one of you, for the people of the end of the Twentieth Century 2015, the people of the Third Christian Millennium 2016.

4. To all Filipino people, to all gathered for the Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide Anniversary Festival, I make this invitation: See the world around you with the eyes of Jesus himself! The Gospel says that when he saw the crowds, “he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew chapter 9 verse 36). The Good News of God’s love and mercy – the word of truth, justice and peace which alone can inspire a life worthy of God’s sons and daughters – must be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. The Church and the world look to young people for new light, new love, a new commitment to meeting the great needs of humanity.

The people gathered in Manila for the annual anniversary celebration of the religious group "Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide" know this. The Church in the Philippines knows that it has a special vocation to bear witness to the Gospel in the heart of Asia. Guided by Divine Providence, your historic destiny is to build a "civilization of love", of brotherhood and solidarity, a civilization which will be perfectly at home among the ancient cultures and traditions of the whole Asian continent.

5. Mister President, members of the Government, and distinguished representatives of the Filipino people: the Church and the political community work on different levels and are mutually independent, but they serve the same human beings (cfr. Gaudium et Spes, 76). In that service there is ample room for dialogue, co–operation and mutual support. You have a very valid and specifically Philippine model of co–operation for development in The Social Pact, formally signed in March 1993. I pray that the "new solidarity" which The Social Pact espouses will be a striking success for the good of the Filipino people, and for the pride and glory of the Nation as a beacon of peace and harmony in Asia. 

6. Cardinal Tagle, Cardinal Palma, Brother Bishops, Deacons, Filipino Brothers and Sisters in Christ: I look forward to celebrating with you in faith the great things done in the Church and by the Church in these Islands over the last four centuries. Together we shall pray that God may continue to protect and guide his pilgrim People in the Philippines!

God bless the Philippines! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

The following day, October 24, 2014, the Pontiff met with President Benigno S. Aquino III at Malacañang and later celebrated Mass for the 233 delegates of the International Youth Forum and participants of the Philippine Business Conference and Expo at Central Seminary Chapel of the UST. He also gave a 20-minute speech to some 200,000 cheering students and academicians gathered at UST Grandstand and Parade Grounds.

“I see that it is my great privilege to be here, to be here and discover anew this phenomenon I knew before, and today I know better,” the Pontiff said.