Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri justified his position against the divorce legislation with a personal visit to Pope Francis in Vatican City recently, during which the lawmaker said he received instruction to “protect the 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 released in Tagalog last Friday, June 7.
The senator traveled to the Holy See together with his wife Audrey and their three children last Wednesday, June 5.
A devout Catholic, Zubiri met with the Pope during the latter’s weekly catechesis and prayers for world peace. The Philippines remains the last country in the world not legalizing divorce.
A proposed legislation on ‘Absolute Divorce’ has already been in the House of Representatives. Its version in the Senate, however, has not yet been transmitted for deliberations.
Zubiri did not consider the divorce bill as a priority measure during his leadership in the upper chamber. His successor, Senate President Francis Escudero, also held a similar view.
“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.
While he is open to discussions on divorce, the former Senate President noted that he maintains a strong belief in the sanctity and insolubility of marriage.
The Zubiri family was among the handful of guests, who had a chance to meet and receive a personal blessing from the Pope this week.
During the meeting, Zubiri explained to the Pope 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.”
The senator assured he will always remember the Pope’s reminder, “and I am going to do my best to protect the family values that hold our nation together.”
Zubiri noted that the incumbent leader of the Catholic Church is special for Filipinos, addressing him as ‘Lolo Kiko’ in his statement.
“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,” Zubiri said.
“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,” the senator added.
Zubiri traveled to Europe to “take a short sabbatical away from politics,” and to spend some “long-promised quality time” with his family.
According to Zubiri, that was the first time in two years that he gave his family his undivided attention.
“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,” Zubiri said.
Zubiri and his family were accompanied by the Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See, Myla Grace Ragenia Macahilig, during their visit to Pope Francis.
