Pope Francis not only captivated the minds and hearts of millions of Filipinos when he set foot in the Philippines in 2015 but also through the power of his words.

His messages became a source of healing, reflection, and hope, resonating with the faithful, from the crowds in Manila to the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Tacloban City.

Here are some key moments from his Jan. 15-19 visit, where his words touched and left an indelible mark on the hearts of Filipinos.

Holy Mass at Manila Cathedral

In his homily at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Manila, Pope Francis reminded the clergy and religious that “all pastoral ministry is born of love.”

He said that love is the foundation of every act of service, calling them to tend to their people with compassion and care. 

He added that this love should be the driving force behind their ministry. He urged them to be “ambassadors for Christ,” bringing others to a renewed, personal encounter with the Lord.

A key part of Pope Francis’ message was the central role of the poor in the Gospel. “The poor are at the center of the Gospel, are at the heart of the Gospel. If we take away the poor from the Gospel, we can’t understand the whole message of Jesus Christ,” he said.

He reminded the faithful that Jesus’ message cannot be fully grasped without considering the poor, who are not only an important part of the Gospel but its very essence. He called on the Church to place the poor at the heart of its mission and to prioritize their needs.

The Pope also spoke about the need for constant self-examination and conversion. He urged the bishops, priests, and religious to be the first to welcome Christ’s reconciling grace into their hearts.

He challenged them to reject worldly perspectives and embrace the humility and transformation that Christ calls them to. “Only by becoming poor ourselves, by stripping away our complacency, will we be able to identify with the least of our brothers and sisters,” he said. The Pope urged them to live authentically in the spirit of Christ’s humility.

Addressing young religious and seminarians, Pope Francis encouraged them to share their joy for Christ with others, particularly with youth who may feel lost or burdened by life’s challenges. “Be present to young people who may be confused and despondent, yet continue to see the Church as their friend on the journey and a source of hope. Be present to those who, living in the midst of a society burdened by poverty and corruption, are broken in spirit, tempted to give up, to leave school and to live on the streets,” he said. 

He called them to be a source of hope to those struggling and to bring the truth and beauty of the Christian message to a world that is often confused and disillusioned.

Meeting with families

Pope Francis also addressed thousands of families at the Mall of Asia Arena where he highlighted the significant role of families in the Christian faith.

Reflecting on the figure of Saint Joseph, Pope Francis spoke of the importance of dreams within families. 

“Once a family loses the ability to dream, children do not grow, love does not grow, life shrivels up and dies,” he said.

He encouraged families to keep dreaming about their future and the well-being of each member, as dreams are important for nurturing love and fostering growth within a household.

Pope Francis also spoke about the importance of “resting in the Lord” through prayer. 

He stressed that prayer is essential for spiritual and mental health as it allows individuals to hear God's call and understand His will. 

He compared the need for spiritual rest to the example of Saint Joseph, who rested and listened to God's guidance, ultimately providing a safe home for Jesus and Mary. 

The Pope encouraged families to pray, reminding them that “the family that prays together stays together.”

Pope Francis also addressed the dangers threatening families, particularly ideological colonization. He warned against external pressures and ideologies that seek to redefine marriage and family structures, asserting that these attacks could undermine family life and the future of society. 

“The pressures on family life today are many. Here in the Philippines, countless families are still suffering from the effects of natural disasters. The economic situation has caused families to be separated by migration and the search for employment, and financial problems strain many households. While all too many people live in dire poverty, others are caught up in materialism and lifestyles, which are destructive of family life and the most basic demands of Christian morality. These are forms of ideological colonization,” he said.

“The family is also threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage, by relativism, by the culture of the ephemeral, by a lack of openness to life,” he added.

Drawing on the example of Saint Joseph, Pope Francis urged families to rise and act after moments of spiritual rest, engaging with the world through prayer and faith. 

“Families will always have their trials, but may you never add to them! Instead, be living examples of love, forgiveness, and care. Be sanctuaries of respect for life, proclaiming the sacredness of every human life from conception to natural death,” the Pope said.

He explained that families are essential for the well-being of society, as they are the foundation for raising children and promoting Christian values. 

In this context, the Pope emphasized that families should strive to become a blessing for society by embodying God's love and contributing positively to the world.

In conclusion, he urged families to be prophetic voices in their communities, sharing the love of Christ through their actions and care for others. 

Giving hope to typhoon survivors

Pope Francis spoke of the solidarity of Jesus with humanity, especially in times of suffering in his Holy Mass in Tacloban City.

He reassured Filipinos, still recovering from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda, that Jesus, having experienced profound pain and sorrow, understands their struggles. 

“Let me tell you something personal—when I witnessed [t]his disaster from Rome, I felt that I had to be here. That is when I decided to come here. I wanted to come to be with you. Maybe you will tell me that I came a little late; that is true, but here I am,” he said.

The Pope acknowledged the deep pain many of the victims of the typhoon were feeling, particularly those who had lost family members, homes, and livelihoods. 

While he could not find the right words to ease their suffering, he reassured them that Jesus, who experienced all the trials of life, stood with them in their pain. 

“So many of you have lost everything. I do not know what to tell you. But surely he knows what to tell you! So many of you have lost members of your family. I can only be silent; I accompany you silently, with my heart,” he said.

Turning to the figure of Mary, the Pope emphasized that she, too, is a source of comfort for those in sorrow. He described how, like a child in pain, believers can turn to Mary in their suffering, calling out “Mother!" when words fail. 

Meeting with young people

During his visit to the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Pope Francis began by acknowledging a tragic incident, the death of a young volunteer. He led the youth in a moment of prayer for her and her grieving parents. 

The Pope expressed his joy in meeting the young people. He stressed the importance of this encounter, as he wanted to listen to them, encourage them, and convey the love and hopes of the Church for their future. 

“I want to encourage you, as Christian citizens of this country, to offer yourselves passionately and honestly to the great work of renewing your society and helping to build a better world,” he said.

The Pope also highlighted the critical role of women in society, saying their perspective was vital in addressing issues the world faces today. 

“Women have much to say to us in today’s society. Sometimes we are too ‘machista’; we don’t make room for women. Women are able to see things differently than men. Women can ask questions that we men just don’t get,” he said.

He also spoke about the power of vulnerability and weeping, a lesson he drew from a young girl who had shared her painful experiences with him. 

He encouraged the young people to weep for the suffering of others, especially children as he pointed out that “certain realities of life are seen only with eyes that are cleansed by tears.”

The Pope also addressed the challenges of modern life, particularly the overwhelming influx of information through media and technology. 

While acknowledging the usefulness of information, he cautioned against becoming “museums” of knowledge, insteadurged the youth to seek wisdom instead. 

“We don’t need young people who are storehouses, but young people who are wise,” he said. 

To achieve this, he encouraged them to learn the three languages of the mind, heart, and hands—thinking, feeling, and acting in harmony. This, he explained, is the true path to wisdom and love.

In discussing love, Pope Francis emphasized that true love requires not only the ability to give but also to receive. He pointed out that Jesus, in the Gospel, demonstrated how to receive love by humbling himself and being moved by the people. 

“Do you let people give you that other kind of wealth that you don’t possess?” he asked. He urged the young people to learn to accept love and wisdom from those they serve, especially the poor and marginalized. 

He challenged them to recognize their poverty and the need for humility, reminding them that “only one thing is lacking”—the ability to receive as much as they give.

The Pope closed his speech by urging the young people to engage in the critical challenges of their time, including environmental concerns, integrity, and caring for the poor. 

Holy Mass at Luneta

In his homily at the Rizal Park in Manila, Pope Francis reflected on the profound significance of the Holy Child Jesus. 

He noted that the image of the Santo Niño, “dressed in the robes of a king, crowned and holding the scepter, the globe, and the cross,” symbolizes the link between God’s Kingdom and the mystery of spiritual childhood. 

He reminded the faithful of the importance of accepting God’s Kingdom like a child, as the Gospel said, “Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” 

Pope Francis also reflected on the identity of all Christians as children of God. “All of us are God’s children, members of God’s family,” he said. 

He highlighted that the Philippines, as “the foremost Catholic country in Asia,” is not only blessed but called to a greater mission—to be “outstanding missionaries of the faith in Asia.”

“God chose and blessed us for a purpose: to be holy and blameless in his sight (Eph 1:4). He chose us, each of us to be witnesses of his truth and his justice in this world. He created the world as a beautiful garden and asked us to care for it. But through sin, man has disfigured that natural beauty; through sin, man has also destroyed the unity and beauty of our human family, creating social structures which perpetuate poverty, ignorance, and corruption,” he said.

The Pope acknowledged the many challenges facing the world today, especially those caused by poverty, corruption, and sin. 

“Sometimes, when we see the troubles, difficulties, and wrongs all around us, we are tempted to give up. It seems that the promises of the Gospel do not apply; they are unreal. But the Bible tells us that the great threat to God’s plan for us is, and always has been, the lie. The devil is the father of lies,” he said.

He urged the faithful to resist the temptation to be distracted by “ephemeral pleasures and superficial pastimes,” which often draw people away from their true identity as children of God. 

“We forget to remain focused on the things that really matter. We forget to remain, at heart, children of God. That is sin: forget, at heart, that we are children of God. For children, as the Lord tells us, have their own wisdom, which is not the wisdom of the world. That is why the message of the Santo Niño is so important,” he added.

Pope Francis reminded the faithful that Jesus, in his vulnerability as a child, needed protection. “He had an earthly protector: Saint Joseph,” he pointed out, adding that the Holy Family is an example of the importance of protecting families. 

He urged the faithful to take responsibility for safeguarding families, the Church, and society from harmful forces. 

“Sadly, in our day, the family all too often needs to be protected against insidious attacks and programs contrary to all that we hold true and sacred,” he said.

In conclusion, Pope Francis stressed the importance of protecting and nurturing children. “We need to protect, guide, and encourage our young people, helping them to build a society worthy of their great spiritual and cultural heritage,” he said.