Ilonggos welcome Pope Francis January 15, 2015 BY PRINCE GOLEZ, Manila Reporter and GLENDA SOLOGASTOA ILOILO City – For 15 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. today, church bells across this predominantly Catholic country will ring to welcome Pope Francis. Known for his concern for the poor, Francis is the third Pope to visit the Philippines. The first was Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1981 and 1995. From the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, the Pope will proceed to the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue in Manila to rest after a grueling visit to Sri Lanka. The Apostolic Nunciature will be the official papal residence during the five-day pastoral visit of Francis. According to Father Rafael Luis Clavel, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Youth Commission here, the Archdiocese of Jaro has sent 65 youth delegates to join other youths in welcoming the Pope in Manila. The “papal encounter with the youth” will take place at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) on Jan. 18. Clavel said the youth delegates from Iloilo are composed of seminarians and members of youth ministries from various towns, but some 200 more Iloilo students have flown to Manila to also attend the UST gathering. The Archdiocese of Jaro is also fielding select families and clergies to join the Pope in scheduled masses at the Manila Cathedral and Mall of Asia. Today, a special 8 a.m. mass will be held at the Jaro Cathedral. There is also an ongoing exhibit of artistic works on the Pope’s visit at Museo Iloilo. At 9:15 a.m. tomorrow, Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, will meet President Benigno Aquino III and the diplomatic corps at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall in Malacañang. He will then celebrate mass with bishops, priests, nuns and the religious at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila. Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. is leaving early morning today for Manila. He is part of the senior government officials who will welcome the Pope in Malacañang. Iloilo City’s Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, on the other hand, said he will not be going to Manila. “I will just pray for him, the Philippines and the Filipino people here,” said Mabilog. In Bacolod City, Mayor Monico Puentevella urged his constituents to pray for the safety of Pope Francis as the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church visits the country. Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya, on the other hand, said the Pope’s visit should inspire Filipinos to unite and give them hope. Tomorrow afternoon, Pope Francis will meet with families at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Bacolod City’s Rep. Evelio Leonardia confirmed that he, wife Elsa and daughter Kara will attend the Pope’s “Encounter with Families” at the Mall of Asia. “This is a rare privilege,” Leonardia said, “My family and I will bring with us the prayers of families from Bacolod.” Coming from one of the oldest Catholic families of the San Sebastian parish in Bacolod City, Leonardia said meeting Pope Francis is a celebration of his family’s faith. “My parents, who steeped us in the Catholic faith, must be smiling at this opportunity given to us,” he said. He recalled how, as a Department of Tourism provincial executive in 1981, he was also part of the working committee that welcomed Pope John Paul II in Bacolod City. On Saturday morning, the Pope will fly to Tacloban City for a mass and lunch with survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda” at the Archbishop’s Residence in Palo, Leyte. At 3 p.m., he will lead the blessing of the Pope Francis Center for the Poor. He is also meeting priests, women and men religious, seminarians and families of “Yolanda” survivors at the cathedral of Palo. Mayor Puentevella of Bacolod said he is flying to Tacloban City to meet the Pope instead of going to Manila for papal events. “I am close to the people of Tacloban. I have a business there which opened only last year,” he said. Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Capiz is sending a delegation of 100 Capiceños to attend various papal activities in Manila. The delegation will be led by Archbishop Jose Advincula, said Monsignor Victor Bendico, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Capiz. For his part, Capiz police director Ulysses Caton said 160 police officers from Capiz have been sent to Leyte to secure Pope Francis. Joining the policemen were nine officers and 257 enlisted personnel of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz. The Pope’s Sunday itinerary will include a meeting with religious leaders at UST and a mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park. The papal plane will leave Manila for Rome Ciampino Airport at 10 a.m. on Monday. (With reports from Roma Gonzales, Mae Singuay and Ralph John Mijares)
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:28:08 +0000
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