Pope Francis and the road to Manila

ROME, Italy – After a 24-hour journey via Abu Dhabi, I am finally in Rome “to fetch the Pope” and bring him to the Philippines. “He might not find his way,” I told the lady at the airline check-in counter in Manila.

The first order of the day is to see St Peter’s Square and visit the Basilica to take pictures, and of course to pray. Then off to the postal office and see how much is the “much-in-demand” rosary that everybody back home wants to have.

The cheapest rosary at the Vatican souvenir office is 4 EUR! Sorry guys, that’s about P54 at the current exchange.

I decided to ask around where the Collegio Filippino, the residence for Filipino priests studying in Rome, is. A friend of mine, who lives in Rome, said it’s a “short walk” from my hotel. I decided to walk, and it took me almost an hour! 

Distance is relative.

Today, the priests at the Collegio invited us Filipino journalists who will be joining the papal plane to Sri Lanka and the Philippines for a send-off mass and lunch.

The mass was a bit emotional. I’ve noted some colleagues teary eyed when Monsignor Willy Andrey, vice rector of the Collegio and mass celebrant, called us in front of the altar and invited all the priests present to pray over us after communion.

Monsignor Will told us that our mission is “to bring the good news of Christ to the people” so that the poor, “will feel the love of God.”

“Media has a responsibility,” said Monsignor Willy, adding that like missionaries we too are God’s messengers.

Well, that’s a tough job description.

Alan Holdren, Rome correspondent of the Catholic News Agency, also a content partner of the Union of Catholic Asian News, reminded us to expect the unexpected during the papal coverage.

He said the Pope, like a battery brand, just “keeps on going, and going, and going.”

“He never stops,” said Holdren. “He hardly sleeps.” The veteran journalist said the 78-year-old pope could have not gotten all the energy from anything but his commitment to God and his mission. (READ: Lolo Kiko: Pope Francis in the eyes of the Filipino)

It’s something that the journalists who will be joining the Pope’s trip needs to have, said Holdren, warning that it would be a long and arduous journey next week. – Rappler.com

Journalist Joe Torres and photographer Roy Lagarde are part of the Philippine media contingent traveling with Pope Francis from Rome to Sri Lanka to the Philippines. They are reporting on the papal visit for UCANews and Rappler.