Why expectations are high for Pope Francis in the Philippines
Fueling the fervor surrounding Pope Francis鈥檚 trip the Southeast Asian nation is the hope that his presence will spur leaders into tackling corruption, and enforce lasting change.
Youth and students display placards and tarpaulin posters of Pope Francis after throwing colored powder in the air at the start of the countdown to welcome the Pontiff Wednesday, Jan. 14 in Manila, Philippines. Student leader Einstein Recedes said they opted to use colored powder to highlight the festive nature of the Pope鈥檚 apostolic visit. In their statement, Recedes said "the nation must indeed celebrate, for here is a Pope who champions the poor."
Bulilit Marquez/AP Photo
In the weeks leading up to Pope Francis鈥檚 five-day visit to the Philippines, the atmosphere has been festive, almost frenzied.
The pope鈥檚 smiling image has been stamped on 鈥� shirts, coins, coffee mugs, posters, even limited-edition dolls 鈥� all of them for sale. Boys are expected to greet the pontiff upon his arrival on Jan. 15. , loosely based on Pope Francis鈥� life and whose cast includes real Filipino priests, has been running since December.
Security has been beefed up: A no-fly zone has been declared to make sure the papal plane arrives safely, . Special forces usually assigned to Philippine president Benigno Aquino III have been tasked to protect the pope, the same report said. Would-be attendees of the papal mass in the nation鈥檚 capital Sunday have, as an additional security measure, been banned from bringing bags and umbrellas.
About are expected at the open-air service, according to reports.
It鈥檚 not unusual for the pope to be received with a lot of pomp and excitement. But much of the fervor surrounding the pope鈥檚 visit to the Philippines could be attributed to Francis himself 鈥撀燼 man who has gained support by聽 (though he certainly has said some ).
This is especially relevant in a country where, while more than 80 percent of the population considers itself Roman Catholic and religious values are closely twined with societal norms, .听
鈥淸A] lack of religious fervor is not one of our problems,鈥� reporter Howie Severino . 鈥淲hat is glaringly obvious is that our society does not practice what has been preached by many generations of priests on our shores.鈥�
The Philippines ranks in a global corruption perception index, according to Transparency International.
Severino goes on to say that he hopes the pope will take time during his visit to address such issues as climate change, torture, and the faults of the clergy.
And Severino is not alone in his opinions: Youth groups have echoed his sentiment.
鈥淗opefully, it [the papal visit] boosts the moral standards of Filipinos, that they would start standing up for what is right. Hopefully, the corrupt Catholic officials would be moved by the pope,鈥� Rob Guevarra, a 海角大神 youth pastor and campus missionary, .
Other groups have been more direct: 鈥淗elp us, dear Pope, as we battle against inequality, as we fight for education, better social services, and for peace and unity in our nation fraught with war,鈥� read an from youth organization led by the Student 海角大神 Movement of the Philippines.
On its official news site, the and social media posts that expressed Filipinos鈥� hope that the pope's presence catalyzes change in the country鈥檚 political and economic landscape.
And in a tangible mark of the people鈥檚 belief in the pope鈥檚 ability to spur action, 500 political prisoners and their families 鈥� hoping to gain Pope Francis鈥檚 support against the country鈥檚 justice system 鈥� have been since Jan. 10, according to a report by news site Rappler.com.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how to speak English but I鈥檓 pleading for Pope Francis to support our struggle for justice for those in prison,鈥� one protester, speaking in Tagalog, told Rappler.
At the same time, the pope鈥檚 visit is expected to reinvigorate what is increasingly perceived as the . Weekly church attendance among Catholics has dropped from 64 percent in 1991 to , according to a report by the Social Weather Stations, a Philippine survey institute.
And that President Aquino, against the Church鈥檚 indignant protests, signed the country鈥檚 first reproductive health bill into law in 2012. Although abortion and divorce remain illegal in the Philippines, some say that the.
"You have a broken church that presents itself as a strong church in this country,鈥� Jayeel Cornelio, director of developmental studies at the Jesuit university Ateneo de Manila University, told Reuters. 鈥淎nd then you've got a strong leader in Pope Francis who is happy to be vulnerable. And I think many young people would find that a more authentic expression of their Catholicity.鈥�