Ilocos Norte Representative Rudy Fariñas had the “selfie of his life” with Pope Francis earlier this year after the canonization rites for Saints John XXIII and John Paul II. Students and parishioners may now take selfies with Pope Francis, months before his scheduled visit to the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines–Students and parishioners may now take selfies with Pope Francis, months before his scheduled visit to the Philippines.
According to Fr. Anton Pascual, president of Radyo Veritas, the Church-run radio station is now distributing life-size cardboard cutouts of the Pope’s image to create awareness about the papal visit to the country from Jan. 15 to 19 next year.
“Many people are taking selfies so this is an opportunity to take a picture with the Pope,” said Pascual, who is also the executive director of Caritas Manila.
He said Radio Veritas aimed to place about 100 “standees” of the Pope in selected schools, churches and offices of religious organizations across the country, including places where the Pontiff is expected to visit.
Where to go
Among the places where Francis’ standees can be found are Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros, Caritas Manila, National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Christ the King Parish in Quezon City, the Dioceses of
Antipolo and Pasig, the Religious of the Virgin Mary, Santuario de San Antonio, Sto. Niño Parish in Tondo, Manila, and Greenbelt Chapel in Makati City.
Apart from the standee, the Mary and Popes exhibition by Radyo Veritas at SM Mall of Asia—which started on Aug. 30 and will run until Sept. 28—is also part of the efforts to generate awareness for the Pontiff’s visit, Pascual said.
More than 100 statues of the Virgin Mary and Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Saint John Paul II and Saint John XXIII are on exhibit, Pascual said.
Record for selfies
“We will also promote Pope Francis’ advocacy, biography, quotes, pictures, among others,” he said.
Pope Francis has been setting the record for papal selfies, according to the Catholic News Service.
“Even aboard the papal flight to Seoul, South Korea, in mid-August, Pope Francis posed for selfies with some of the Vatican press corps,” it said.
Pope Francis is known to have repeatedly broken protocol because he readily obliges to requests for selfie shots from people who visit or approach him.
‘Selfie, selfie’
Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi City had a chance to take a selfie with Francis on Aug. 17 when the Pope spoke before about 50 Asian bishops taking part in the Asian Youth Day celebration at Daejeon, South Korea.
Baylon said that when Francis saw the phone, the Pontiff said, “Selfie, selfie,” and Baylon replied, “Si, si (Yes, yes).”
From the moment Baylon took his phone out and began framing a shot, all eyes were on him. All the while, the Pope was laughing, he said.
Fondness for Francis
Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said he supported the Radyo Veritas’ project of putting up standees of Pope Francis.
“Who doesn’t want his picture taken with the Pope although it’s only a (piece of) cardboard,” Cruz said. “He is quite amiable, a likeable and famous personality. We Filipinos are very fond of him.”
Cruz added: “It’s a good thing people will become more aware that the Pope is coming. This generates more expectation and consequently his coming will be a big occasion really for the country.”