Ni ELLAINE DOROTHY S. CAL

Maraming Pilipino ang inspirado at napamahal kay Jorge Mario Bergoglio, o mas kilala bilang Pope Francis, dahil sa kanyang kasimplehan, kabaitan at pantay-pantay na pagtingin sa lahat. Diretso man magsalita dahil sa kanyang likas na katapatan, marami ang lubos na humahanga sa mga payo at pagpapaalala ng Papa sa kanyang pagmimisa, at ramdam ng lahat ang sinseridad na nagmumula sa kanyang puso.

Simula nang mahalal bilang ika-266 na Papa ng Simbahang Katoliko, nagpamalas na ng natatanging kababaang loob at mahusay na pamumuno si Pope Francis; nagpatupad siya ng mga reporma, binago ang mga tradisyunal na ritwal at naging bukas ang Simbahan sa mga pagbabagong dala ng panahon.

Sa loob ng mahigit isang taon niya bilang Papa, maraming pahayag si Pope Francis na tumatak at naging kapaki-pakinabang para sa lahat:

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--“ You all know that the duty of the conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother cardinals have gone almost to the ends of the earth to get him... but here we are.” (Ang una niyang pahayag bilang Papa noong Marso 13, 2013)

-- “The Lord never tires of forgiving. It is we who tire of asking for forgiveness.” (Unang Angelus bilang Papa, Marso 17, 2013)

-- “This is precisely the reason for the dissatisfaction of some, who end up sad -- sad priests -- in some sense becoming collectors of antiques or novelties, instead of being shepherds living with ‘the odor of the sheep.’ This I ask you: Be shepherds, with the ‘odor of the sheep,’ make it real, as shepherds among your flock, fishers of men.” (Chrism Mass, Marso 28, 2013)

-- “Ask yourselves this question: How often is Jesus inside and knocking at the door to be let out, to come out? And we do not let him out because of our own need for security, because so often we are locked into ephemeral structures that serve solely to make us slaves and not free children of God.” (Pentecost vigil, Mayo 18, 2013)

-- “Men and women are sacrificed to the idols of profit and consumption: it is the ‘culture of waste.’ If a computer breaks it is a tragedy, but poverty, the needs and dramas of so many people end up being considered normal.” (Hunyo 5, 2013)

-- “Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey.” (Lumen Fidei, Hunyo 29, 2013)

-- “If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?” (news conference sa biyaheng Brazil-Rome, Hulyo 28, 2013).

-- “An evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral.” (Evangelii Gaudium, Nobyembre 24, 2013).

-- “Gossip can also kill, because it kills the reputation of the person!” (Angelus, Pebrero 16, 2014).