Umaasa si Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle na makatutulong ang pagbisita ni Pope Francis upang magkaroon ng transpormasyon ang buhay ng mga Pinoy at ng Pilipinas.

Ayon kay Tagle, posible ang pagkakaroon ng pagbabago sa buhay ng tao at ng bansa ngunit ito’y magaganap lamang aniya kung papayagan ng mga mamamayan.

“The pastoral visit of Pope Francis focused on Mercy and Compassion would certainly offer vast opportunities to experience grace, to hear callings, to disturb comfort zones, to value the poor, to renew society, to care for creation and to live honorably,” aniya pa, sa isang mensahe na nakapaskil sa papal visit website.

Inalala pa ni Tagle kung paano misteryosong nagbukas ang isang pintuan para sa kanya para sa misyon ng simbahan noong bumisita sa bansa si Pope Paul VI noong 1970.

“I was 13 years old when Pope Paul VI visited the Philippines. With many fellow students milling around me, I craned my neck and steadied my eyes so I could see him as his car rushed before us,” kwento niya. “The serene face and demeanor of the pope impressed me. The image has not left my mind, as well memories of his visit in Tondo,” aniya.

Matapos ang 18 taon ay nagparehistro si Tagle sa Catholic University of America upang mag-aral ng theology.

“I never imagined in 1970 that one day I would ‘travel’ inside the mind, heart and soul of this great Pope, who led the renewal of the Church in the modern world,” aniya pa.

Kwento pa ng Cardinal ang kanyang pag-aaral kay Paul VI at sa Vatican II ang siyang nagtulak sa kanya para magsilbi at makipag-collaborate kina Saint John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at kay Pope Francis.

“At the end of the visit and at some unknown future, let us share stories of how the journey of Pope Francis to us has led us to other journeys of faith and mission,” aniya pa.

Si Pope Francis ay nakatakdang bumisita sa bansa sa Enero 15-19, 2015.