Viva il Papa!

I have tears running down my face as I write this post. Not because I am terribly sad, but because I couldn’t help but be grateful for God’s omnipresence and goodness radiating from the people around me.

Just moments ago, I saw a clip of Pope Francis going out of his way to stop his driver and walk towards a disabled child. He prayed over him and spoke to the child’s parents. It was a very brief but truly a meaningful encounter. It reminded me of the time that I was able to see him up close as well during his visit here in Manila last January. Along with my church mates from Singles for Christ, I was among the millions of Filipinos who gathered past Luneta to hear Pope Francis’ homily and receive his blessing. Truly, the Pope has this aura of calmness and peace surrounding him. I will never forget the smile which he continued to shower the people around despite the rain. We didn’t mind being drenched in the cold rain as well; it was a once in a lifetime encounter we can never miss. And indeed, it was certainly one of the best moments of my life.

Other people regarded us Catholics as missing the point because they thought we are worshipping the Pope instead of Christ. Unfortunately, those who regarded us as such are not seeing the real picture. Instead, we can see the image of Christ better through him. We are more drawn to Christ because Pope Francis is a living testament to God’s goodness by mirroring the way his son Jesus Christ lived and sacrificed here on earth. Pope Francis is drawing us closer to God and to Christ because he makes us feel God’s love further through the way he showers mercy and compassion to millions of people worldwide.

Whenever I am being overwhelmed with fear or anxiety, it is such moments which remind me that there is really no need to be afraid because with God and through Christ, I can achieve peace. Through Him, I can let go and continue stepping out into the unknown knowing that there is Someone in control. Just like the peace I encountered while seeing the Pope and while looking at how he continues to change the lives of people across different nations, I know that I can always experience this calmness and peace through prayer. The Pope’s actions reminded me to always see the goodness in others. He makes me appreciate the value of a single gesture or even a small act of kindness towards others as a bountiful blessing which God can use to heal and uplift others. While the media might make us believe that our society today is scary (thanks to the nonstop news about killings and crimes—hello, cultivation theory!) God’s promises in the Bible that He has a good plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and that He will never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6) are bigger.

The Pope’s depiction of humility is also an example which I know I have to continuously work on. I have a lot of flaws and there are times when my actions can hurt others. But his reminder to always do good and try to always look out for one another makes me realize that repentance is paramount and that while it might appear as difficult, being humble in any situation is possible.

I pray that I can continue to change for the better. With continuous prayer and with Mama Mary’s intercession, I know I can be more like Christ. I will continue to pray that the Lord will bless me with the strength, wisdom, courage and humility that I need to live by. With Pope Francis’ smile as an inspiration and his examples of being God’s instrument of healing and support to others, I claim that I can also do good and show Christ’s love to others even through the simplest ways.