Pope Francis: Marinduque in his mind (Part 1)

"I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor!" - Pope Francis

The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium), is the title Pope Francis has chosen for the first major writing of his pontificate. It outlines the Pope's vision for a missionary Church, whose "doors should always be open". It covers numerous themes, including evangelization, peace, social justice, the family, respect for creation, faith and politics, among others.

The Pope's thoughts, particularly about the economy and the distribution of income is one topic that would soon reverberate right in the session hall of the provincial government of Marinduque, as conveyed by the leader of the flock comprising 87% of the local population, Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr. of the Diocese of Boac.

Pope Francis named Maralit Bishop-elect of Boac, then was ordained and installed as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Boac in March last year.

Bishop Maralit's exhortation was for our local politicians to examine their conscience - if they truly believe that they have a big responsibility to the people of Marinduque, the province itself, and most of all, to God. This, in relation to the environmental class suit yet to be refiled in another country by the province of Marinduque, where people are being kept in the dark anew, or so it seems.

("Kayo po ba ay naniniwalang napakalaki ng inyong responsibilidad sa mga tao sa lalawigan, sa bayan at higit sa lahat sa Diyos sa mga hakbang na inyong gagawin patungkol sa kasong ito?" - Bishop Maralit asks the Sangguniang Panlalawigan).

Earlier in the Vatican, Pope Francis conveyed to Maralit, through the Congregation for Bishops, the Pope's awareness of the Marinduque environmental issues and what had transpired in Nevada. More on this later. 

Bishop Marcelino Antonio M. Maralit, Jr. (4th Bishop of Boac)

Quoting directly from Pope Francis' writing, Bishop Maralit before members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan declared in Tagalog, thus:

"Hinihiling ko sa Diyos na bigyan Niya pa tayo ng mas marami pang mga politiko na may kakayanan sa isang tunay at epektibong pakikipag-usap na nakatuon sa pagsugpo sa pinakamalalim na dahilan at hindi lamang po ng mga kasamaan sa ating mundo.

"Ang politika kahit pa malimit ay hindi na maganda ang tingin, ay nananatiling isang mataas na bokasyon at isa sa pinakamataas na uri ng pagmamalasakit kung ang hangad nito ay ang kabutihan ng lahat.

"Kailangan nating makumbinse na ang pagmamalasakit ay hindi lamang ang prinsipyo ng mga maliliit na ugnayan katulad ng mga pamilya at kaibigan kundi gayon din dapat sa mga malalaking ugnayan katulad ng panlipunan, pang-ekonomiya at politika.

"Ako ay nagsusumamo sa Panginoon na bigyan po Niya tayo ng mga politiko na tunay na nababagabag sa kalagayan ng lipunan, ng mga tao at higit sa lahat ang buhay ng mga dukha!

"Bakit hindi tayo lumingon sa Diyos at hilingin sa Kanya na pukawin ang kanilang mga binabalak? Ako ay tunay na kumbinsido na ang kabukasan sa nakatataas, sa Diyos ay maaaring maapagdulot ng isang bagong pag-iisip na politikal at pang-ekonomiya na makakatulong sa pagpapabagsak ng mga pader na naghihiwalay sa ekonomiya at sa kabutihan ng lahat ng lipunan."

 (Evangelii Gaudium 205) "I ask God to give us more politicians capable of sincere and effective dialogue aimed at healing the deepest roots - and not simply the appearances – of the evils in our world! 

"Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good. 

"We need to be convinced that charity “is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones)”. 

"I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor!

Why not turn to God and ask him to inspire their plans? I am firmly convinced that openness to the transcendent can bring about a new political and economic mindset which would help to break down the wall of separation between the economy and the common good of society."

(to be continued)