Sunday, January 25, 2015

What Francis left us in the Philippines


Lo que nos dejó Francisco en Filipinas


Ce que François nous a laissé aux Philippines



At the end of the post, an interesting letter written by an 16 years student, Carlisle Naudyn Caroro, published in the “Philippine Daily Inquierer”, on January 25. Sent and commented by Harald Aldler sscc


Enrique Moreno Laval sscc, 
formator in Manila

English /Español/Français

He left us his words.


He told the authorities: “Politicians should give a shining example of honesty, decency and dedication to the common good”. (...) “I hope this is a call for all, in all social classes, to reject all forms of corruption that takes money from the poor”.

He told the consecrated persons: “The poor are the heart of the Gospel. If we let the poor off of the Gospel, we cannot understand Jesus”. (...) "In this way you will can answer with honesty and integrity the challenge to announce the radicalism of the Gospel in a society that gets used to exclusion, polarization and scandalous inequality”. (...) “You must share the joy and excitement of their love for Christ and the Church with everybody".

He told the families: “As a family, we have to be very shrewd, clever and strong, to say no to any attempt at ideological colonization on the family”. (...) “A family without dreaming is not possible. When a family's ability to dream is lost, boys do not grow, love doesn’t grow, and life weakens and turns off ".

He told those affected by the typhoon: “I am here to tell you that Jesus is Lord, Jesus does not disappoint. Many of you have lost everything. I do not know what to say, he (the Lord) does know what to say. Many of you have lost part of the family. Only I keep silent and accompany you with my heart in silence”.

He told the youth: “The world lacks mourn. The marginalized are crying, those who are left out are crying, those who are despised are crying, but those who lead a life more or less without need don’t know cry. Certain realities of life can only be seen with eyes cleansed by tears. Learn to cry. Be brave; do not be afraid to cry”.

He told the city of Manila and the country: “Every child should be seen as a gift loved and protected. Each of them is a gift to be welcomed with love. We need to care for them. Let not be condemned them to live on the streets. We have just read in the Gospel that Jesus embraces and bless them”.

But above all he left us his gestures.

His very presence was a major gesture. The Pope admitted, “As soon as I heard about the typhoon, immediately I have said: I have to go there!” Once in the Philippines he knew getting everywhere with his amazing simplicity. He never was tired to smile and warmly gave a greeting to everyone. He also laughed heartily when the occasion provoked laughter.

He showed his high level of emotional intelligence when he was carried away with realism by feelings of the moment. Several times, he left the speech prepared to directly and spontaneously react to the reality that was presented. He told the youth: “I have not read almost nothing that I had prepared, because the reality that you posed me has surpassed all ideas that I brought prepared”. He freely admitted, “My English is very poor” and asked to speak in their mother language, Spanish, even with marked Argentinean accent, to express their deepest feelings more accurately.

He was touched by the victims and preferred to remain silent to their pain. He embraced the children, those who are vulnerable and those who are violated, those millions of little ones who terribly suffer in the Philippines. He has been authentic at all. He has been more a father and a grandfather than "His Holiness" or "Holy Father".

His visit was a blessing that the Philippines should take on account to become a truly blessed nation, a people who is blessed by the Lord. The task is difficult, but possible. And since the visit of Francis, it will be a task full of challenges, but above all of hope.



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Nos dejó sus palabras.

Dijo a las autoridades: Los políticos deben dar un ejemplo luminoso de honradez, decencia y entrega al bien común”. (…) “Espero que este sea un llamamiento para todos, en todas las clases sociales, a rechazar toda forma de corrupción que le quita dinero a los pobres”.

Dijo a los consagrados: “Los pobres son el corazón del Evangelio. Si dejamos a los pobres fuera del Evangelio no podremos comprender a Jesús”. (…)  “De esta manera se podrá responder con honestidad e integridad al desafío de anunciar la radicalidad del Evangelio en una sociedad acostumbrada a la exclusión social, a la polarización y a una desigualdad escandalosa”. (…) “Compartan con todos la alegría y el entusiasmo de su amor a Cristo y a la Iglesia”.

Dijo a las familias: “Como familia tenemos que ser muy sagaces, hábiles, fuertes, para decir no a cualquier intento de colonización ideológica sobre la familia”. (…) “No es posible una familia sin soñar. Cuando en una familia se pierde la capacidad de soñar los chicos no crecen, el amor no crece, la vida se debilita y se apaga”.

Dijo a los damnificados por el tifón: “Estoy aquí para decirles que Jesús es el Señor, que Jesús no defrauda. Tantos de ustedes han perdido todo. Yo no sé qué decirles, Él sí sabe qué decirles. Tantos de ustedes han perdido parte de la familia. Solamente guardo silencio y los acompaño con mi corazón en silencio”.

Dijo a los jóvenes: “Al mundo le hace falta llorar, lloran los marginados, lloran los que son dejados de lado, lloran los despreciados, pero aquellos que llevamos una vida más o menos sin necesidades no sabemos llorar. Ciertas realidades de la vida solo se ven con los ojos limpiados por las lágrimas. Aprendan a llorar. Sean valientes, no tengan miedo a llorar”.

Dijo a la ciudad de Manila y al país: “Cada niño debe ser visto como un regalo querido y protegido. Cada uno de ellos es un regalo que debe ser acogido con amor. Necesitamos cuidarlos. No permitamos que sean condenados a vivir en las calles. En el Evangelio que hemos leído, Jesús los abraza y los bendice”.

Pero sobre todo nos dejó sus gestos.

Su sola presencia fue el gesto mayor. “En cuanto supe lo del tifón, dije de inmediato: ¡tengo que ir allí!” –confidenció el papa. Una vez en Filipinas supo moverse por todas partes con su sorprendente sencillez. No se cansaba de sonreír y saludar afectuosamente a  todo el mundo, pero también de reír con ganas cuando la ocasión provocaba su risa.

Mostró su alto nivel de inteligencia emocional dejándose llevar con realismo por los sentimientos del momento. Varias veces dejó de lado el discurso preparado para reaccionar directa y espontáneamente ante la realidad que se le presentaba. Dijo a los jóvenes: “No leí casi nada de lo que tenía preparado, porque la realidad que ustedes me plantearon ha superado todas las ideas que traía preparadas”. Admitió con libertad, “mi inglés es muy pobre” y pidió permiso para hablar en su lengua materna, el castellano, incluso con marcado acento argentino, para expresar más adecuadamente sus sentimientos más profundos.

Se dejó conmover por las víctimas  y ante su dolor prefirió guardar silencio. Abrazó conmocionado a los niños y niñas, a los pequeños vulnerables y vulnerados, aquellos que por millones en Filipinas sufren lo indecible. Fue auténtico en todo. Fue más padre y abuelo que “Su Santidad” o “Santo Padre”.

Fue su visita una bendición que Filipinas debería recoger para llegar a ser de veras una nación bendecida, un pueblo bendito por el Señor. La tarea se ve difícil, pero posible. Y desde la visita de Francisco, más llena de desafíos, pero sobre todo de esperanza.

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Il nous a laissé ses mots.

Il a dit aux  autorités: «Les politiciens doivent donner un brillant exemple de l'honnêteté, la décence et le dévouement au bien commun". (...) « J’espère que c’est un appel à tous, dans toutes les couches sociales, de rejeter toutes les formes de corruption qui prend de l'argent à partir des classes pauvres ».

Il a dit aux personnes consacrées: «Les pauvres sont le cœur de l'Evangile. Si nous laissons les pauvres hors de l'Évangile, nous ne pouvons pas comprendre Jésus ». (...) «De cette façon, vous pourrez répondre avec honnêteté et intégrité le défi d’annoncer la radicalité de l'Evangile au milieu d’une société accoutumée á l’exclusion sociale, la polarisation et l'inégalité scandaleuse ». (...) « Partagez la joie et l'enthousiasme de votre amour pour le Christ et l'Eglise avec tous».

Il a dit aux familles: «En tant que famille, nous devons être très rusé, intelligent, fort, de dire non à toute tentative de colonisation idéologique de la famille ». (...) «Une famille sans rêver n’est pas possible. Lorsque la capacité d'une famille à rêver est perdu, les garçons ne grandissent pas, l'amour ne se développe pas, la vie s'affaiblit et s’éteint ».

Il a dit aux personnes touchées par le typhon: «J’y suis à vous dire que Jésus est Seigneur et Jésus ne déçoit pas. Beaucoup d'entre vous ont tout perdu. Je ne sais pas quoi dire, mais Lui (le Seigneur) il sait quoi dire. Beaucoup d'entre vous ont perdu une partie de la famille. Seulement, je me tais et vous accompagne avec mon cœur en silence ».

Il a dit aux jeunes: «Le monde manque pleurer.  Les marginalisés sont en pleurant, ceux qui sont laissés de côté sont en pleurant, les méprisés sont en pleurant, mais ceux qui mènent une vie plus ou moins sans besoins, ils ne savent pas pleurer. Certaines réalités de la vie seulement on peut les voir qu’avec les yeux nettoyés par les larmes. Apprenez à pleurer. Soyez courageux, n’ayez pas peur de pleurer ».

Il a dit à la ville de Manille et au pays: «Chaque enfant doit être considéré comme un cadeau aimé et protégé. Chacun d'eux est un don qui doit être accueilli avec amour. Nous avons besoin de prendre soin d'eux. Ne les laissez pas d’être condamnés à vivre dans la rue. Dans l'Evangile, nous venons de lire que Jésus les embrasse et les bénit ».

Mais surtout il nous a laissé ses gestes.

Sa présence était déjà un geste majeur. Le pape a dit: « Dès que j’ai entendu parler du typhon, j’ai dit immédiatement: je dois y aller ». Une fois dans les Philippines, il  savait se déplacer partout avec une simplicité étonnante. Il ne se lassait pas de sourire et de saluer chaleureusement tout le monde, mais aussi il savait rire de bon gré quand il était l'occasion.

Il a montré son haut niveau de l'intelligence émotionnelle,  emporté avec réalisme par les sentiments du moment. Plusieurs fois il a quitté le discours préparé pour réagir directement et spontanément à la réalité présentée. Il a dit aux jeunes: «J’ai lu presque rien de tout ce qui j’avais préparé, parce que la réalité que vous m’avez posé a dépassé toutes les idées qui j’avais préparé d'avance». Il a admis librement, «mon anglais est très pauvre » et demanda parler dans leur langue maternelle, l’espagnol, même avec l'accent argentin marquée, pour exprimer leurs sentiments les plus profonds avec plus de précision.

Il a souffert par les victimes et devant leur douleur il a préféré garder le silence. Avec émotion il a embrassé les enfants, ces petits vulnérables et violés, ces millions qui souffrent terriblement aux Philippines. Il a été absolument authentique. C’était plus d'un père et un grand-père que «Sa Sainteté» ou «Saint-Père».

Sa visite a été une bénédiction que les Philippines devraient accueillir pour devenir vraiment un pays béni, un peuple béni par le Seigneur. La tâche est difficile, mais possible. Et depuis la visite de François cette tache est pleine de défis, mais surtout d'espoir.



Thank you, ‘Lolo Kiko’ 
(NB: Lolo = grand Pa, Kiko = nickname for Francisco. People, specially the youth, liked to call the Pope "Lolo Kiko".)
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If a young student like me were given a chance to speak to Pope Francis, these would be my words:
Maraming salamat. I will be forever thankful to you and how you have greatly changed my life and that of everyone around me. I am but a bystander on Earth and I know nothing about life and all its perplexities. I am only a teenager, and trying to become significant is merely a shout into the void. I am not a daughter of crucial insufficiency, but I am not as well a child born into the cradle of wealth. I have experienced life’s ups and downs—moments that made me happy, moments that knocked me down to my knees. I have learned when to laugh and when to cry. I have known what love is, for it is taught in many of our subjects in school. I have learned to give and to love, but you have taught me lessons far greater than what I have learned.
When I was growing up, I always believed that I was nothing significant compared to other people who have iPhones, high class marks, or even wonderful clothes. Sometimes we come to a point where we let ourselves be defined by how society sees us, but you have reminded us that it is not between us and society, that it is always between God and us. You have reminded us that God has a plan for all our lives, and that where we are now is already a fraction of His Divine plan.
Maraming salamat, Lolo Kiko, for reminding us that there is no need for us to worry, that there is no need for us to be anxious, for God has laid out plans, perfect plans, for our lives.
Maraming salamat, for you have taught me that I, myself, am poor. Mahirap po ako. We are helpless. We are feeble. We are vulnerable. We can exist, but we cannot live if we are to live by ourselves.
You have taught us that we truly are our brother’s keeper. Now and then we have the urge to help people on the street, or to lend a hand to little children, but we can’t, we couldn’t, because we couldn’t even help ourselves for we are also drowning from our own hardships. But you have taught us that being our brother’s keeper isn’t always in giving but in showing care, giving a penny, or even a smile. You have showed us to not just give but to also receive with utmost humility. Just like a beggar who humbly opens his hands to receive alms, you have taught us to not be self-sufficient. We are created for others. You have reminded us that it is okay to give money to the poor and it is beyond all right to receive what they can offer us—a light smile, a warm hug.
Maraming salamat, Lolo Kiko, for reminding me that I am never alone. Nobody is alone. Thank you for reminding us that there is no cross in life that the Lord doesn’t share with us. Even before we had that difficulty, God already has His solution.
Thank you for teaching us to weep—not just for ourselves but for others. You have taught us that compassion isn’t shown in merely giving what the deprived needs, but that compassion is in shedding a tear with the one who weeps, sharing the sadness with the one who mourns.
Maraming salamat for you have answered the question that I had always asked myself: “Why is it that we still feel unloved even when we have given all the love that we have to someone?” We weren’t open, that is why. We remained closed to the love that might come to us. We refused to accept the love of which we are most deserving. Thank you, Lolo Kiko, for you have taught us love beyond what science could teach. Thank you for assuring us that God’s love is unfailing and that no matter how unloved we feel, God will always remain with His everlasting love—no conditions, no boundaries.
I wonder how wonderful it would be to spend a day listening to your inspiring words. I wonder what the families and the children you talked to were feeling. I am in awe of how you laid emphasis on families, the youth, and marriage. God has sent an angel as wonderful as you to unite people, to bring peace, and to remember that God is our Father.
Lumina pandit. Spread the light and tell the world of God’s love. Perhaps this is the best lesson I have learned from you, Lolo Kiko. This is my mission. This is our mission. We must get up, go forth and act. We feel what we think, feel what we do. We do what we think and what we feel. We ought to be for others, just like a candle that loses nothing by lighting another candle. Lumina pandit.
Lolo Kiko, I have always wished to see you and give you my warmest hug, but I wasn’t able to do so. I have always wished to share with you my life story over a cup of tea. I have always wished to engage in a conversation with you even for just a while. I have always wanted to share a laugh, a joke or two with you, but your words are enough. God has called me to witness Him in you. I thank you, Lolo Kiko, for opening our eyes to what our real mission is—and it is not to try to be significant in this world but to be important for others. From a young student who had difficulty fitting in, you have turned me into a youth of purpose—all because of God and His abiding love.
Don’t worry, Lolo Kiko. As you have constantly asked us to do, I will always pray for you. Maraming salamat!
Carlisle Naudyn Caroro, 16, a student at Siquijor Provincial Science High School, says she “believes most in God’s unfailing love.”

1 Comment(s)
Harald Adler
25 January 2015
02:06
The Good News is nothing new, but it seems the special occasion of Pope Francis' visit and his personal credibility and charism opened the eyes, ears and hearts of people so that they listened and accepted the Good News of God's Love given us in Christ as they heard about the first time in their lives. 

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