Manila, Philippines, Jan 15, 2015 / 21:10 pm
Pope Francis on Friday repeated his praise for the Philippines' Christians as he encouraged bishops, clergy, vowed religious and seminarians to proclaim the Gospel, identify with the poor and help the "broken in spirit."
"Filipino culture has, in fact, been shaped by the imagination of faith. Filipinos everywhere are known for their love of God, their fervent piety and their warm devotion to Our Lady and her rosary," he said in his homily at a Jan. 16 Mass. "This great heritage contains a powerful missionary potential."
The Pope celebrated Mass for clergy, religious and seminarians at Manila's Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. His homily called his congregation to self-examination and to reach out to all parts of society.
"We proclaim the Good News of God's infinite love, mercy and compassion," he said. "We proclaim the joy of the Gospel. For the Gospel is the promise of God's grace, which alone can bring wholeness and healing to our broken world. It can inspire the building of a truly just and redeemed social order."