Pope sends video message in English to Philippines conference
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday sent a video message in English to participants
at the conclusion of a conference in the Philippines organized by the archdiocese
of Manila. The three day Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization has been
focused on three main goals: creating an experience of God in the context of the new
millennium, strengthening bonds of communion in the Philippine church, and inspiring
the faithful to live by the spirit of mission.
Some five thousand delegates
from across South East Asia have been taking part in the meeting which concludes on
Friday with the papal message and a Mass celebrated by the nuncio to the Philippines,
Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto.
Listen to Pope Francis giving his first public address
in English since the start of his pontificate:
My dear brothers
and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ,
I greet all of you with the peace and
joy of Our Lord. The first Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization is a worthy
offering to the Year of Faith. For this I thank all of you, my brother Bishops, the
priests, religious men and women, seminarians and the lay faithful who organized and
are participating in the conference. I am happy to learn that you came to Manila from
different parts of the Philippines and Asia. The Holy Spirit is actively at work in
you. The Church of Christ is alive!
Through this conference, I hope you would
experience again the loving presence of Jesus in your lives, that you would love the
Church more and that you would share the Gospel to all people with humility and joy.
Do not get tired of bringing the mercy of the Father to the poor, the sick, the abandoned,
the young people and families. Let Jesus be known in the world of politics, business,
arts, science, technology and social media. Let the Holy Spirit renew creation and
bring forth justice and peace in the Philippines and in the great continent of Asia
that is close to my heart.
Please pray for me. I promise to pray for you, especially
to Our Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelization.
Mabúhay
ang Pilipínas! Mabúhay ang Asia! Pagpaláin kayó ng Dios! [Long live the Philippines!
Long live Asia! God bless you!]