Filipiniana News – February 2015 RHYME & REASON Pope Francis is widely admired, even by non-Catholics and non-believers, due to his courageous stance on contentious social issues, humility and sincere concern for the poor and other marginalized members of society. Although he has not fundamentally altered basic Catholic church doctrine, he has dramatically changed the tone and the manner by which the Church's teachings are proclaimed. By practicing what he preaches, and in reaching out to the most vulnerable, Pope Francis has been propagating the Christian faith much more effectively than previous church leaders in modern times. For those of us who are part of the Philippine diaspora (now estimated at around 10 million Filipinos in various parts of the world), particularly those who are forced to endure prolonged separation from their families, it is hugely comforting to know that the highly admired Pope Francis had on many occasions, expressed a strong conc