As Pope Francis makes his way through the Asia, his stop in the Philippines has caused quite an emotional stir in the Catholic community after his interaction with a child.

On Sunday morning as the Pope was meeting the faithful, he was met by a young 12-year-old girl, Glyzelle Palomar. Glyzelle, trying to hold back her emotional tears asked the Pope, "Why does God allow so many children to suffer?" reported Drudge Report.

Glyzelle is a ward of a foundation that helps street children who ran away from home, or were abandoned by their parents and often forced into prostitution.

Pope Francis later responded in his homily that "it took Glyzelle to ask a question to which there is no answer ... Why do children suffer?" to move him so much that that he abandoned what he prepared. 

The pontiff responded, "Realities are superior to ideas," and, constantly turning back to Glyzelle's question, said, "Your realities are superior to the paper in front of me."

Francis expressed his understanding that the real life experiences of people cannot be substituted by attempts to sympathise, as well intentioned as they may be.

He went on to say people should allow themselves "to be evangelized by the poor, by the wisdom that they have." Through their suffering can we can learn what is needed to be done to become better people.

The Philippines allegedly has a problem with abandoned and homeless youths. It is reportedly so bad, there were rumors that in preparation for the Pope's visit, street children were rounded up and kept away from his sight.

One can only hope that the Pope will use his powers of influence to urge the Philippine government to change their practices and protect their abandoned and abused children.