While members of the Cebu Archdiocese are disappointed that Cebu won’t be part of the itinerary of Pope Francis’ visit in January next year, some are still hopeful he can make it to the 2016 Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City.
“Who knows? He can do a McArthur,” said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma. He was referring to American general Douglas McArthur who declared t “I shall return (to the Philippines).”
Cebu is the venue of the international religious congress from Jan. 24 to 31, 2016 and invited Pope Francis to preside over the concluding Mass at the South Road Properties in Cebu City.
“We have not stopped trying to bring him (Pope Francis) to Cebu for the 2016 IEC. I appeal to Cebuanos to keep praying. I hope God will answer our prayers and His Spirit moves the Holy Father to come to Cebu,” archdiocese spokesman Msgr. Joseph Tan said.
So far, there has been no denial or confirmation of the request.
Palma flew to Manila yesterday en route to Spain for a week long trip to promote the IEC.
Tan said while the archdiocese is disappointed that Cebu is not in Pope Francis’s itinerary next January, it is also happy that “the Holy Father chose to visit the Philippines over other places in the world”.
“We have to think of it holistically as well. Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines gives us a sense of pride. That is an affirmation that the Holy Father recognizes the Church in the Philippines as active and alive; that it remains faithful (amid all the challenges),” Tan said.
Pope Francis is set to travel to the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19, 2015 “to visit victims of calamities.” Only Manila and Leyte are in his itinerary.
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