[Papal Visit 2015] Yolanda victims ‘central’ to Pope’s visit in PHL

 

 

MANILA (The Filipino Connection, 13 January)–As the arrival of Pope Francis to the Philippines draws near, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas reminded the public that consoling typhoon Yolanda survivors in Leyte is “the primary reason” for his apostolic visit.

Francis’ visit, themed “Mercy and Compassion” by the Catholic Church hierarchy, includes a January 17 day-long sortie in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte.

That visit to the most hard-hit area by Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) is even the “centerpiece” of the papal visit, said Villegas, also president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Visiting Leyteno survivors of typhoon Yolanda will be central to the visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines, says the head of the Philippines' Catholic bishops (photo take from http://www.acpcomputer.edu.sg/index.php/acp-gives-aid-to-yolanda-victims-in-the-philippines/)

Visiting Leyteno survivors of typhoon Yolanda will be central to the visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines, says the head of the Philippines’ Catholic bishops (photo take from http://www.acpcomputer.edu.sg/index.php/acp-gives-aid-to-yolanda-victims-in-the-philippines/)

“We cannot can be remove Tacloban and Palo from the papal itinerary,” Villegas said at a forum organized by a national broadsheet held at the University of Santo Tomas.

The Pontifical university is one of the venues for Francis’ Jan. 15-19 state and apostolic visit.

Francis’ official functions include: (January 16) a state function at Malacanan Palace, a mass at Manila Cathedral, meeting with families at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City; (January 17) a mass at Tacloban City airport grounds, lunch with Yolanda survivors, and the opening of the Pope Francis Center for the Poor; (January 18) meeting with inter-religious leaders and with the youth at UST, and a papal mass at the Luneta Grandstand.

Francis arrives on the afternoon of January 15 from Colombo, Sri Lanka. He then leaves for Rome on the morning of January 19.

Villegas also pointed out that the five-day visit of Pope Francis is far different form his visits in other countries because. Here in the Philippines, the Pope will not be a “church functionary”.

He is going to Sri Lanka to canonize that country’s first saint, Indian missionary Joseph Vaz. But when the Pope comes to the Philippines, Villegas said he’s coming here “in order to bring the blessings of God… in order to visit Jesus in the Philippines.”

Villegas also said that the visit of Pope Francis “comes from his own willingness,” unlike in other countries where he is invited.

Pope Francis is the third pontiff to visit the country after Pope Paul VI (1970) and Pope John Paul II (in 1981 and 1995).

 

 

The Filipino Connection covers the visit of Pope Francis in partnership with Philstar.com.

 

 

This story can be published / broadcast / posted online provided The Filipino Connection / Philstar.com and the article’s author/s are properly acknowledged. Editorial mistakes are the publisher’s. Email: thefilipino.connection@gmail.com

About Jeremaiah Opiniano