Pope Francis Slams Corruption In Philippines; Aquino Lashes Out At Church Officials In Front Of Visiting Pontiff

Speaking frankly, Pope Francis told Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on Friday to end corruption in his government and to hear the cries of the poor suffering from "scandalous social inequalities."

At the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila during an official welcoming ceremony on the second day of his five-day visit to the Philippines, the Pope appeared keenly aware of the corruption scandals in Asia's most Catholic nation as he called for a more just and caring society in the Philippines.

"It is now, more than ever, necessary that political leaders be outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good," he said in what some Filipinos considered as a thinly veiled criticism of the Aquino government.

Government officials, Pope Francis said, must "reject every form of corruption, which diverts resources from the poor, and to make concerted efforts to ensure the inclusion of every man and woman and child."

Although Aquino has undertaken measures to fight corruption in government, not a few government officials, some of whom are allied with Aquino, have been linked to corruption scandals, notably the misappropriation of public funds for personal gain.

Aquino responded to the Pope's address by pointing out the Catholic church's silence "in the face of the previous administration's abuses," referring to his predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whose presidency was heavily tainted by corruption. Arroyo has been in detention on corruption charges since 2012.

With Pope Francis looking at him, Aquino also lashed out at priests who he said have been unduly critical of him. "Some members of the clergy now seem to think that the way to be true to the faith means finding something to criticize, even to the extent that one prelate admonished me to do something about my hair, as if it were a mortal sin," Aquino said. The Philippine president was referring to Bishop Ramon Arguelles who in 2012 mocked the president for being bald, saying he should wear a wig.

It was during that year when church officials launched a vigorous campaign to oppose the Aquino government's decision to introduce a family planning law that would allow public health centers to hand out contraceptives, such as condoms and pills, to the public and teach sex education in schools.

Church officials opposed the law, fearing that it would lead to abortions. But the government remained adamant in implementing the law to curb a population explosion that the government feared would worsen poverty in the country. The Philippines, now with a 100 million population, has one of the highest birth rates in Asia.

Aquino did, however, acknowledged the Church's role in helping oust the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Aquino immediately drew rebuke for airing his gripes against Church officials in front of the visiting Pope Francis, with some Filipinos calling the president "insensitive."

"Aquino just couldn't rise above his own concerns and pettiness," progressive activist Renato Reyes said. "He made the Pope visit an occasion to air his gripes versus Church leaders and critics."

After meeting Aquino, Pope Francis rode the Popemobile on his way to the Manila cathedral to celebrate mass, with tens of thousands of Filipinos lining the streets to greet him. Thousands more gathered outside the cathedral.

Following the mass attended only by bishops, priests, nuns, seminarians and other members of the laity, the Pope made a surprise detour when he left the cathedral through a side door and walked across the street for a brief visit to a Church-run home that cares for former street children.

Later on Friday, the Pope held a rally with Filipino families at the Philippines' biggest mall where he lauded the contribution to society by Filipino migrant workers. He also paid tribute to victims and survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which killed over 6,000 people in November 2013.

Pope Francis made special mention of Filipino migrant workers, citing their "oft-neglected yet real contribution ... to the life and welfare of the societies in which they live."