THOUSANDS TO THRONG TO POPE’S MASS
Catholics thrilled by first papal visit since 1984
His Holiness Pope Francis’ official isit o Thailand between Nov 20 and 23 is a great opportunity for the Thai-Christian om munity to learn about his life f simplicity his love of mankind and his amazing Godgiven energy that has boosted the peoples’ faith in God at a time hen more ore people are turning away from religious ife. In Thailand, there are around 300,000 people of the Christian faith. This is a very auspicious opportunity to welcome the Cath lics’ holy spiritual leader Pope Francis to Thailand. The last apal visit was made by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1984, r 35 years go. His admirable goal of helping people living in poverty nd ith difficulty since being appointed to the top post of the Christian regime in 2013 has moved the world community to get closer o him and learn about his work for all mankind, and his key message of love and faith in God.
Born on Dec 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the eldest of five children, Pope Francis began his life in poverty. He orked as a chemical technician after his high school graduation. ater n 1958, he started as a novice with the Society of Jesus, with tudy f theology at the Colegia Maximo de San Jose. He graduated ith Doctorate of Theology from the University of Freiburg in Germany. He started his priesthood on Dec 13, 1969, began serving as Jesuit missionary in Argentina in 1973, and was late oted to higher positions. From 2005 to 2011, he was appointed s the president of the Bishops’ Conference of Argentina. In 2013, after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI resigned, he was electe with a majority vote to be the new leader of the Catholic hurch. As Pope, he has made the world admire his life of simpli ity. He rejected staying at the luxurious papal residence in the Vatican and instead moved to a smaller one, reasoning that the smaller residence ould help him work closely with others. He als commuted via public transport and loves to cook for imself. His lifestyle has broken traditions that have been pheld by his predecessors for more than a century. “He looks like a very kind grandfather He is the kind of down-to-earth person that makes it asy for anyone to talk to him. He even bliged when a pedestrian asked him to tak a selfie. His childhood experience, especially of living in poverty, has ade him a better person,” said Father Anucha Chaiyadej, who had the chanc to ork with the pontiff in several meetings. Father nucha said he has never had a direct onversation with ope Fran cis, but has felt that the ontiff as lot of energy to work. “It’s mazing that an 83-year-old man could work with strong ambition the people firm in their aith n God, he said.
He said Thai-Christian follo ers should take this opportunity to learn about his daily pract ces and his patience in making people understand he value of religion. He added that he umber of Christian believers increased after Pope rancis stepped into is osition.
“We have een a stronger aith in Jesus, hich s a result th Pope’s utstanding erformance. He s the great spiritual leader nd uides us n how to ake the spirit healthy, he said.
Fath nucha said ope Franci has focused on elping he poor, especially mmigrants to urop and America, s he as ordered all churches welcome those people y giving them shelter or ood so s to educe their suffering.
Pope rancis also attempted to ntroduce reforms o the church financial system. In 2013, he set up ommissio to xamine potential reforms in a bid to increase ransparency and compliance ith external standards, including extra auditors nd n annual inancial report.
He lso appointed cardinals not only ro European ountries, but also rom other parts of the world like Africa nd sia, iving n-European priests a chance to reach igher position in he Catholic Church.
Additionally, he ade environmentalism ne f th key messages his papacy and has voiced is upport stream solutions to climat change such as the ncreased se f renewable energy