My Kind of Pope.

I was a teen when the first Papal visit took place in Manila.  Pope Paul VI came to Manila on November 27, 1970.

Together with a classmate from the State University, we travelled from Manila to the Elliptical Road in the Capital City of Quezon City to hear Pope Paul VI's celebrate the Holy Mass.

It was probably a semestral break or classes were suspended for the Pontiff's visit, because we were allowed by our parents to go.

The mass at the Quezon Memorial Circle at Elliptical Road seemed very orderly as I recall now. My friend and I were able to get a good view of the Altar and the Pope. After the Mass, I remember Pope Paul riding in an open car, waving his hand at the big crowd, and driving towards North. I even heard a side speak saying, "the Pope is going to visit some large Church property."

Last January 17-19, 2015 Pope Francis took Manila and the Philippines by storm. He came to the island-country to visit Tacloban, Leyte, the province devastated by the 2013 Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Hainan).

We were there again, this time at the Luneta Park, to hear the Pontiff celebrate Holy Mass.

The Catholic faithful, despite the day-long rain, stayed on and waited for the Pope's arrival and Mass. We got into the venue as early as three in the morning, and went home, drenched in rain, at dusk.

It is only now as an adult that I truly appreciate the role of the Catholic Pontiff.

Pope Francis is warm, simple and humble. As a Pontiff, he seems so natural, and you would think he is just a next-door neighbour.

He preached in his homily at the Manila Cathedral on January 17th, that "it is very important that priests bring Christ's joy to the people through the Holy Mass."

Sometimes when we are beset by all sorts of problems and issues, it is easy for us to be swallowed by
sadness and depression, or even if we are happy and satisfied, we tend to be complacent with our faith. Other times, even if we are serving the Lord through various Church apostolate, we get sucked into negativity because of other people's righteousness.

At these moments, Pope Francis' homily rings a loud bell. Each one should see the JOY OF CHRIST in the Holy Mass.