The Filipino Catholics anticipates the arrival of their world-renowned leader, Pope Francis as he will visit the Philippines this coming January. As part of the celebration, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) declared 2015 as the “Year of the Poor.”
Pope Francis, the head of the billion-strong Roman Catholics around the world has been dubbed as the champion of the poor. According to CBCP’s statement, the year 2015 is the time to re-examine the use of natural resources to make sure that they benefit the poor.
According to Fr. Enrico Martin F. Adoviso, chairman of Manila’s (RCAM)’s Commission on Social Services and Development (CSSD), “We as the Church of the Poor are called to renew our commitment to Christ’s mission and to always take the side of the poor and the oppressed, especially when and where there is injustice and denial of basic human rights. The farmers that till the land to bring us food, the fisher folks who navigate the seas for us and the workers who run the industries are still materially poor after decades and generations of work for living. Their dignity as co-creator of the Lord should be reclaimed,” Fr. Enrico Martin F. Adoviso said.
The RCAM-CSSD launched an event in line of the “Year of the Poor” declaration, they dubbed the event as “Rise and Stand Up,” which was attended by students and members of the Catholic church clergies.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, is best known for closely interacting with poor communities while still working as an archbishop in Argentina. Pope Francis will visit the Philippines on January 15-19, 2015, he is also scheduled to visit some areas devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.