Pope blesses Philippine saint’s mosaic, remembers Haiyan victims

November 22, 2013 - Pope Francis on Thursday blessed a mosaic of Philippine teenage Saint Pedro Calungsod in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome which will later be kept in the crypt under the basilica. Pedro Calungsod, a sacristan and catechist who was martyred in 1672 in Guam, was officially declared a saint in Rome, 21 October 2012. At a brief ceremony, planned months ago, the Pope joined Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, and a group of Filipinos. Cardinal Tagle led the prayers, speaking not only of the sorrow and suffering caused by super-typhoon Haiyan, but also of the faith, love and solidarity evident in its aftermath. Pope Francis thanked the cardinal for his "words full of faith, full of pain, full of hope." Addressing the group, the Holy Father said, "We wonder why these things happen, which you cannot explain.” "In these times of so much suffering do not tire of asking, 'Why?' As children do” he said. “This way, you will draw our Father's eyes on your people; you will draw the tenderness of the Father who is in Heaven upon yourself, as children do when they ask, 'Why? Why?'" In times of suffering, prayer is of even more help, the Pope said, assuring the Filipino people of his prayers. The Pope, who has contributed $150,000 to relief efforts, has also asked that a collection for the victims of the typhoon be taken up at the closing Mass of the the Year of Faith on Sunday, Nov. 24, inthe Vatican.