POPE FRANCIS is truly a man of surprises.
On the evening of January 16, the second day of his pastoral and state visit to the Philippines, Pope Francis had a private meeting with 40 Filipino members of the Society of Jesus in the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila.
Among the local Jesuits in attendance were Fr. Louis Catalan, SJ of the Philosophy Department, Father Provincial of Filipino Jesuits Tony Moreno, SJ, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Executive Director Xavier Alpasa, SJ and former University President Bienvenido Nebres, SJ. They came from several Jesuit schools, seminaries, formations and ministries all over the Philippines.
Catalan said in an interview with The GUIDON that Pope Francis advised the Jesuits to “focus on the peripheries” in their pastoral work, which mean putting prime attention to the sick, poor, refugees, migrant workers, among others.
According to Moreno, Pope Francis was “very warm and personal.” In an online interview with The GUIDON, Moreno further said, “We were all moved by the experience. There was a feeling of awe, reverence and fraternal friendship. He understood us, our weaknesses, but constantly challenged us to be like St. Ignatius of Loyola.”
Photo by Antonio Spadaro, SJ (@antoniospadaro)
In an interview with Rappler, meanwhile, Villarin described the meeting to be “very Jesuit, very casual” and having “lots of humor and fraternal familiarity.”
“It was just like a simple family gathering and we talked about all sorts of stuff like vocation, love of Christ, prayer, mission, the youth, serving those peripheries, migrants, etc,” he said.
This is the second surprise meeting His Holiness has made since his arrival in the Philippines on January 15. After celebrating Mass in the Manila Cathedral on January 16, Pope Francis met privately with some former street children from the Tulay ng Kabataan organization; he was with Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
Although the Ateneo de Manila University is not part of Pope Francis’ official itinerary, members of the community will be attending his encounter with the youth to be held at the University of Santo Tomas on January 18. The Ateneo plans to send a contingent of 200, consisting of 175 students and 25 professionals and faculty members.
Moreover, three Jesuits are directly involved in the five-day papal visit. Loyola House of Studies Rector Jose Quilongquilong, SJ serves as the official translator for Papal Spokesperson Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ. Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ will be in charge of the liturgical music for the concluding Mass to be held in Rizal Park on January 18, while Jesuit Communications Head Nono Alfonso, SJ handles some Catholic media groups who are covering the visit.
With reports from Regine D. Cabato, Janella H. Paris and Ennah A. Tolentino
