Non-Catholic groups believe papal visit will strengthen Filipinos’ faith in God

MANILA, Philippines - Non-Catholic groups view January 15 to 19 as ordinary days but some of them believe that the historic visit of Pope Francis will help renew the Filipinos’ faith in God.

Rob Guevarra, youth pastor and campus missionary of Victory Church-Malolos, said Pope Francis could inspire the Filipinos to seek God.

“The pope is a good person to look-up to and he's a good inspiration to all of us but at the end of the day, I hope the pope points us back to who we should be looking to really, which is Jesus Christ,” Guevarra told The STAR in a recent interview.

“It's good to be inspired by him, it's good that we appreciate him and at the end of the day, I hope we see that he's also a human being being used by God to fulfill what God wants him to do,” he added.

Guevarra, whose religious group emphasizes the need for a strong relationship with God, said they would be praying for the pope, whom he said is “doing a good job.”

“Hopefully, it (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,” he said.

Reverend Dr. Eli Rivera, pastor of the Seed of Faith United Methodist Church, expressed hopes that the papal visit would help people remember God despite the trials that the country is facing.

“The Philippines has long been disunited, disoriented and there are several violent incidents happening here. Since the pope is pro-people and pro-uniity, I hope the orientation of his messages will dwell on those themes,” Rivera said.

Rivera hopes the criminal incidents will go down and more Filipinos will go to church and read the bible because of the visit.

Hubert dela Cruz, bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, is wishing that the pope’s trip to the Philippines would help bring about social transformation.

“I hope the impact of his visit will be positive change in the Philippines. Our leaders are Catholics but what are they doing? They are stealing money, oppressing people. I hope they (corrupt leaders) feel that the Philippines is experiencing poverty because of them,” Cruz said.

“When the pope arrives, I hope their views will change, that they will realize that they are Christians who should follow the commandments of God, that as good Christians, they should the serve the people rather than seek to be served,” he added.

Jonathan Maglonzo, an elder of the Sevent Day-Adventist Church, believes the visit of Pope Francis will bring about temporary peace.

“It’s like preparing for a visitor in one’s housse. The areas that used to be dirty are now clean. Criminilaity will cease temporarily. They also respect the visit of the pope,” Maglonzo said.

Frederico Reyes, president of a local chapter of the Iglesia ng Diyos kay Cristo Hesus, expects the pope to spread the message of peace, love and unity just like any other religious preacher.

“The Philippines is a God-fearing nation so the faith of its people towards the church they belong to will become stronger,” Reyes said.

Some preachers, however, believe the interest sparked by the pontiff’s visit will just be temporary for some people.

“The faith of those who are indifferent towards God may be revived or awakened. Maaring ningas kugon lang (It may not last long),” said Noli Torres, pastor of God’s Family Bible Baptist Church.

“Once he’s gone, it (interest) will also be gone,” he added.

The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints’ dela Cruz agreed.

“Filipinos are like ningas kugon. They would believe what he is saying when he is in front of them but they would not do it afterwards,” he said, referring to the cogon grass flame of a cogon grass that extinsguishes easily.

Victory Church’s Guevarra, however, has a more optimistic view on the Filipinos’ faith.

“I expect the Pope to say something about loving people, more of really practicing the faith that we have” Guevarra said.

“And I'm hoping that he would say that yes, the Philippines is in the bad condition but we do apply our faith and love people,” he added.

The Philippines is a predominantly Roman Catholic country with more than 80 percent of its 100-million population belonging to the faith.