Pope Francis prefers ‘simple’ papal visit to PH

MANILA, Philippines – Pope Francis, the Argentine pope known for espousing a simpler Church, also wants the same treatment for his upcoming visit to the Philippines next year.

At a press briefing on Thursday, November 20, papal visit media relations sub-committee chair Fr Anton Pascual said the Vatican would prefer a simple papal visit with minimal expenditures.

The Vatican also urged for more resources to be spent on helping the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and the earthquake in Bohol in 2013, according to an article on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site.

The Pope will meet with Yolanda survivors when he goes to Tacloban City and Palo in Leyte on January 17, 2015.

“The call of the Vatican that this visit not be costly is important because the desire of the Holy Father is that donations be given instead to the victims of calamities. That is the primary purpose of his visit,” Pascual said.

He added, “He wants that whatever graces received in terms of donations be given instead to victims of calamities, especially with the ongoing rehabilitation for Yolanda victims and survivors of the earthquake in Bohol.”

Pope Francis will be in the Philippines on January 15 to 19.

The highlights of his first trip to the Philippines include his lunch with Yolanda survivors in Leyte and events in the Manila Cathedral, the University of Santo Tomas, and the Mall of Asia Arena. (READ: Huge Catholic event in UST during Pope’s Philippine trip)

While Pascual said the Church is also open to donations for the papal visit, CBCP secretary general Fr Marvin Mejia clarified that the visit should not be treated as a “fund raising event.” – Rappler.com

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