Pope Francis in UST: Two Street Children Silenced the Crowd By Asking Why God Allowed Suffering to Happen

One of the highlights of Pope Francis’ 5-day visit in the country is to discuss issues about poverty. In his Youth Encounter visit in the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday morning, the whole Filipino nation was shook from the core as two poverty-stricken children shared their unforgettable experience.

Screenshot photo from YouTube and Rappler

Poverty in the Philippines can be evidently seen from the street-children who have witnessed the horrors of living in the street. This is the reason why two representatives from ‘Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation’ were chosen to share their stories with the Pope and thousands of people who attended the Youth Encounter event.

Jun Chura, 14 years old and Glyzelle Palomar, 12 years old silenced the crowd for almost five minutes as they retold the happenings in their life which no children should be allowed to experience.

Pope Francis was all-ears when Chura told his story. He was born from a poor family and left their home at a very young age. Because he had nowhere to go, he came to selling plastic and bottles just to eat. He also witnessed the chaos as other street children fight because of money or for a place to sleep.

Palomar said that many children are neglected by their parents, and most of the children turned to drugs and prostitution with no one to guide them.

In her emotional speech, Palomar asked, “Bakit po pumapayag and Dyos na may ganitong nangyayari? Walang kasalanan ang mga bata. At bakit kaunti lang ang mga taong tumutulong sa amin?”

Fortunately, both children are already in the process of starting their life anew with the help and support of Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation, a foundation which aims to help street children.

“Noong araw na iyon, doon na po ako nagsimulang mangarap. Sinabi ko po sa aking sarili na magtatapos ako ng pag-aaral para sa balang araw ay makatulong din ako sa mga batang kalye katulad ko dati at sa aking pamilya.” Chura said, as he recalled his experience with the Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation.

After their speech, both kids were hugged by the Pontiff. Palomar, who was still sobbing was held by the Pope and they kissed his ring afterwards.

After Palomar’s question, both the Pope and the crowd seem to appear speechless but he still managed to answer:

"Why do children suffer so much? Why do children suffer? When the heart is able to ask itself and cry, then we can understand something. There is a worldly compassion, which is useless. You spoke something of this. It is a compassion which moreover leads us to put our hand into the pocket and give something to someone, to the poor."

Pope Francis ended the event with his impromptu speech in which we addressed the youth about poverty, saying that they must feel how it is to be poor in order to know their commitments in helping others.

Source: Rappler,ABS CBN News and TrendingNewsPortal