Pope Francis returned to Vatican last Monday, ending his Asian visit. The People's Pope was overwhelmed of the warm acceptance that he received in the Philippines. According to report, at least six million people went to the mass led by Pope Francis in Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
The Philippines, where Christianity is a majority religion, has anticipated the arrival of the Pope. The Pope visited Manila and Tacloban, where he asked the Filipinos to become "missionaries of faith."
Following his visit to Tacloban, where a 27-year old youth volunteer passed away after helping out with the Papal program, the Pope had asked everyone for a moment of silence to pray for the woman who died while serving for the event.
The Pope then addressed the crowd in the meeting with the youth held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST). Pope Francis asked the youth to make good use of the countless information available online.
He asked the youth to learn "how to think, feel, and do." According to him, the youth should use the knowledge they have, use it with their hearts, and put that knowledge into good actions.
He also asked why there were only a few females present in the crowd. Pope Francis asked everyone that when the next pope arrives, he wants more women and girls in attendance. Women see things differently from men, the Pope adds.
Pope Francis mentioned how a young Filipina girl, had asked the only question that he does not have an answer to, "Why does God let children suffer?" It was a very emotional moment when the young girl cried and hugged the pope. She used to be a beggar on the streets and was taken into custody by an organization.
The Pope steered away from his original prepared sermon to address the questions of the youth and said, "reality is superior to ideas."
"We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected. And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to a life on the streets," Pope Francis said in his homily.
The Pope has confirmed his plans of visiting the United States soon, with New York City, DC, and Philadelphia as part of his itinerary.
