WHEN Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle announced the scheduled encounter of His Holiness Pope Francis in the University of Santo Tomas with the youth on January 18, it instantly ignited the hearts of the Thomasian community.
It was not a surprise when as early as 6:30 p.m., on the eve of his visit; a number of people are already lined up alongside the vicinity of the University. Even more surprising has been the hundreds of students who volunteered for this spiritual event.
The relative cooperation appeared to signal an acknowledgment that youth today, which are said to be less concern about the country and was bound to create troubles, perhaps, could not stay that way forever in a life battered by social challenges.
Covering the moment was what this is all about. It was the night before the encounter when I entered the campus. With a Papal media pass, I did not need to join the long line of people who wish to see the Pope up close. Though I have to sacrifice 18 hours of no sleep, I prefer to say that this opportunity was, indeed, a blessing.
I tried to combat the cold night as I roamed around the inexplicably peaceful campus to have a view of growing lines of people on the outskirts of UST. They really did camp out, set up blankets, and endure sleeping and eating on the cold sidewalk. In the streets, vendors and vehicles are eerily invisible.
An hour before the gates opened, I went straight to the grandstand in hopes of being at the front row. But just as I stepped foot on the field, a security officer stopped me to examine my bag and asked me to taste the bottled water I brought. I was baffled to the point that he repeated, “Tikman niyo lang po.” And I did.
And then it happened. After hours of waiting, Pope Francis arrived. Thomasians, and even other attendees, hailed as the Pontifex passed the iconic Arch of the Century. Despite heavy rainfall, Pope Francis put on his most well-loved smile and unwearied waves to the emotionally high masses as they took picture of him and chanted “Pope Francis, we love you!”
Former street child Glyzelle Palomar, then, gave her testimony but broke down in tears even before finishing her speech. She asked the Pontiff, “Bakit po pumapayag ang Diyos na may ganitong nangyayari dahil walang kasalanan ang mga bata?” to which Pope Francis answered by embracing the little girl.
At this stage, I suddenly felt more than just someone searching an enchanting story. I realized that at that very moment, I am part of the perfect scenario that I was about to write.
“She is the only who has put a question for which there is no answer. And she wasn’t able to express it in words but rather in tears.” Those words echoed in my ears and, perhaps, will echo over the years. Those words will serve as my constant reminder to keep myself vulnerable to weep. I have never thought of life that way. Because of this revelation, I learned that life is more than just experiencing it firsthand. It is having familiarity to every layer of life’s bliss and pain.
Young generations like me often face difficult choices and situations. What should we do when friends failed an exam? Should we speak out on their behalf? Should we cry with them? This reaction says something about children today: more kids are no longer afraid of speaking their minds. They have begun looking for solutions and adapt to a faster pace of life.
“Be courageous. Don’t be afraid to cry,” Pope Francis encouraged young people.
It is true, of course, that “Francis’ effect” they call. He has undoubtedly won the hearts of Catholics, and even non-Catholics, with his simplicity, sincerity, open-mindedness and message of faith. A glimpse of the dear Holy Father have made me, for the first time in a long while, free and peaceful. I forgot all about the hunger, the rain, and the cold. People are right. It is like seeing Jesus.
At around 12 in the afternoon, the encounter with the youth ended with Pope Francis giving his final prayer and blessing to all the faithful who eagerly anticipated his visit. This was the most difficult part of the day. Some cried but the weeping did not sounded like a howl of despair. It was a cry of hope and happiness.
Photo By Genevieve Aguilan
