Pope
Francis urges Filipino leaders to reject corruption
(Vatican Radio) At the start of his first full day in Manila,
the capital of the Philippines, Pope Francis met with President Benigno Aquino,
together with other political leaders, urging them to reject corruption and
promote "honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good".
Speaking to the civil authorities and diplomats gathered in Manila's Rizal
Cerimonial Hall on Friday, the Pope spoke of the need to defend families, young
people and the elderly, ensuring social justice and respect for the human dignity
of all.
Pope Francis is making
a three day pastoral visit to the Philippines and is scheduled to travel on
Saturday to the central city of Tacloban, southest of the capital, where he'll
meet survivors of the devastating typhoon Yolanda that left over seven thousand
people dead or missing in November 2013.
Please find below the full text
of Pope Francis' address to the authorities and diplomatic corps in Manila's Malacañang Palace on Friday January 16
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank you, Mr President, for your kind welcome and for your words of greeting
in the name of the authorities and people of the Philippines, and the
distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps. I am most grateful for
your invitation to visit the Philippines. My visit is above all
pastoral. It comes as the Church in this country is preparing to
celebrate the fifth centenary of the first proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ on these shores. The Christian message has had an immense
influence on Filipino culture. It is my hope that this important
anniversary will point to its continuing fruitfulness and its potential to
inspire a society worthy of the goodness, dignity and aspirations of the
Filipino people.
In a particular way, this visit is meant to express my closeness to our
brothers and sisters who endured the suffering, loss and devastation caused by
Typhoon Yolanda. Together with many people throughout the world, I have
admired the heroic strength, faith and resilience demonstrated by so many Filipinos
in the face of this natural disaster, and so many others. Those virtues,
rooted not least in the hope and solidarity instilled by Christian faith, gave
rise to an outpouring of goodness and generosity, especially on the part of so
many of the young. In that moment of national crisis, countless people
came to the aid of their neighbors in need. At great sacrifice, they gave
of their time and resources, creating networks of mutual help and working for
the common good.
This example of solidarity in the work of rebuilding teaches us an important
lesson. Like a family, every society draws on its deepest resources in
order to face new challenges. Today the Philippines, together with many
other countries in Asia, faces the challenge of building on solid foundations a
modern society – a society respectful of authentic human values, protective of
our God-given human dignity and rights, and ready to confront new and complex
political and ethical questions. As many voices in your nation have pointed
out, it is now, more than ever, necessary that political leaders be outstanding
for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good. In this way
they will help preserve the rich human and natural resources with which God has
blessed this country. Thus will they be able to marshall the moral
resources needed to face the demands of the present, and to pass on to coming
generations a society of authentic justice, solidarity and peace.
Essential to the attainment of these national goals is the moral imperative of
ensuring social justice and respect for human dignity. The great biblical
tradition enjoins on all peoples the duty to hear the voice of the poor.
It bids us break the bonds of injustice and oppression which give rise to glaring,
and indeed scandalous, social inequalities. Reforming the social
structures which perpetuate poverty and the exclusion of the poor first
requires a conversion of mind and heart. The Bishops of the Philippines
have asked that this year be set aside as the “Year of the Poor”. I hope
that this prophetic summons will challenge everyone, at all levels of society,
to reject every form of corruption which diverts resources from the poor, and
to make concerted efforts to ensure the inclusion of every man and woman and
child in the life of the community.
A fundamental role in the renewal of society is played, of course, by the
family and especially by young people. A highlight of my visit will be my
meetings with families and with young people here in Manila. Families
have an indispensable mission in society. It is in the family that
children are trained in sound values, high ideals and genuine concern for
others. But like all God’s gifts, the family can also be disfigured and
destroyed. It needs our support. We know how difficult it is for
our democracies today to preserve and defend such basic human values as respect
for the inviolable dignity of each human person, respect for the rights of
conscience and religious freedom, and respect for the inalienable right to
life, beginning with that of the unborn and extending to that of the elderly
and infirm. For this reason, families and local communities must be
encouraged and assisted in their efforts to transmit to our young the values and
the vision which can help bring about a culture of integrity – one which honors
goodness, truthfulness, fidelity and solidarity as the firm foundation and the
moral glue which holds society together.
Mr President, distinguished authorities, dear friends:
As I begin my visit to this country, I cannot fail to mention the Philippines’
important role in fostering understanding and cooperation among the countries
of Asia. I would also mention the oft-neglected yet real contribution of
Filipinos of the diaspora to the life and welfare of the societies in which
they live. It is precisely in the light of the rich cultural and
religious heritage of which your country is proud that I leave you with a
challenge and a word of prayerful encouragement. May the deepest
spiritual values of the Filipino people continue to find expression in your
efforts to provide your fellow citizens with an integral human
development. In this way, each person will be able to fulfill his or her
potential, and thus contribute wisely and well to the future of this
country. I am confident that the praiseworthy efforts to promote dialogue
and cooperation between the followers of the different religions will prove
fruitful in the pursuit of this noble goal. In a particular way, I
express my trust that the progress made in bringing peace to the south of the
country will result in just solutions in accord with the nation’s founding
principles and respectful of the inalienable rights of all, including the
indigenous peoples and religious minorities.
Upon all of you, and upon all the men, women and children of this beloved
nation, I cordially invoke God’s abundant blessings.
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