SEN. Juan Miguel Zubiri has vowed to protect the Filipino family as “instructed” by Pope Francis amid calls for the passage of the proposed measure seeking to legalize divorce in the Philippines.
The Philippines is among the countries in the world that does not recognize divorce. A proposed measure legalizing absolute divorce has been passed at the House of Representatives on third and final reading, while a counterpart version of the measure in the Senate has yet to be scheduled for plenary discussions.
This was the summation of Zubiri of his dialogue with Pope Francis last June 5 when he and his family visited Vatican City during the Pontiff’s weekly catechesis and prayers for world peace.
Zubiri is in Europe to “take a short sabbatical away from politics and to spend some “long-promised quality time” with his family.
“Pope Francis asked me to please protect the family and this is an instruction that I will take to heart,” Zubiri said in a statement.
During their meeting, Zubiri said he told Pope Francis that he is a pro-life and pro-family legislator from the Philippines, to which the Pope responded by asking him to “please protect the family.”
“Lolo Kiko is so special to us Filipinos, and I got the feeling that he holds us in a special place in his heart and his prayers as well, as one of the most devoutly Catholic nations in the world… I am always going to remember his reminder, and I am going to do my best to protect the family values that hold our nation together,” he said.
Zubiri said he hopes that senators will be guided with what is best for the Filipino family when they discuss the divorce bill.
“We prayed for our beloved country and for our leaders to always find discernment and to do what is right even when it is not popular,” said Zubiri, who has expressed that while he is open to discussions, he maintains a strong belief in the sanctity and insolubility of marriage.
While in the Vatican, Zubiri said he had the chance to introduce his family members to the Pope. His family was supposedly among the few guests who were given the privilege to meet and receive a personal blessing from Pope Francis.
“Meeting our Santo Papa, Lolo Kiko, as a Catholic and a Christian, was the greatest honor of my life, especially since I got to bring my kids along,” said Zubiri, who was with his three young children and wife Audrey.
“This is the first time in two years that I have been able to give my family my undivided attention, and so I really wanted to take them away for some family time – all on my personal expense, of course,” he added.
He said meeting the Pope was a very humbling experience.
“Our Catholic faith is so important to our family, so it was very humbling to have the Pope give us so much of his time and attention. He seemed especially fond of our youngest boy, and even asked him to learn Spanish,” he added.
Zubiri and his family were accompanied by the Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See, Myla Grace Ragenia Macahilig.
