Pope Francis tells Zubiri to ‘protect the family’

Pope Francis meets the family of former Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri in the Vatican on June 5, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Vatican Media website)

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has advised former Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri “to protect the family” during his meeting with the 87-year-old pontiff.

The former Senate leader went to the Vatican on June 5.

Zubiri is in Europe “to take a short sabbatical away from politics and to spend some long-promised quality time with his family.”

His break comes after Senator Francis Escudero successfully wrested the Senate presidency from Zubiri with the support of 15 out of 24 senators.

READ: Zubiri says he’s taking a break from ‘nasty backstabbing’

In a statement on Sunday, Zubiri shared the Pope’s advice to him, after he explained that he “is a pro-life and pro-family legislator from the Philippines.”

The senator also said that while “open to discussion,” he “maintains a strong belief in the sanctity and insolubility of marriage.”

“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,” Zubiri said.

“Pope Francis asked me to please protect the family, and this is an instruction that I will take to heart,” he noted.

The senator is with his family, whom he introduced to the Pope and received blessings from the pontiff.

“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 observed.

“Lolo Kiko (Pope Francis) 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,” he said.

“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 added.