Belen Santos, a member of Lasalian Catechetical Center (DLSU) Manila, shows the Pope dolls at an IEC Pavilion stall. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
WHO says Pope Francis isn’t coming to Cebu? A group said he is, but in the form of a doll.
Amidst the colorful stalls selling International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) t-shirts and other memorabilia, a booth sells cloth dolls manufactured in the likeness of Pope Francis.
The dolls, roughly the length of a ruler, are clothed in the iconic white habit, made from the same material used in priests’ garments, as well as in a yellow raincoat similar to what Pope Francis wore when he visited the typhoon-ravaged city of Tacloban in Leyte last year. All dolls also bear a silver cross.
Sold by the Lasallian Catechetical Center of De La Salle University in Manila, the exclusively made, limited edition dolls commemorate the Pope’s visit last year and “remind people of his message of mercy and compassion.”
“The first Pope doll belongs to Pope Francis himself,” said Beth Timbal, one of the volunteers in the organization. “Our group decided to create the dolls to raise funds for our activities, and we offered the first doll to Pope Francis.”
The group had sold as many as 1000 of the “Pope dolls” in Manila. This year, they brought with them 1,440 dolls to the IEC, in the hopes of generating more funds.
Over 120 dolls have been sold at the congress so far, said another volunteer, Edilbert Escalona.
“We are here, selling these Pope dolls, because we want to show to the people that this Pope doll will help the children and our catechetical activity,” he added.
Each doll costs P500 and all proceeds will be used to fund the organizations’ catechetical projects, including teaching children in public schools, gift-giving to students and out-of-school youth, and feeding programs.
“It’s really worth buying because it’s good material, you get a souvenir of the Pope – you also know that the Pope has a doll exactly like this – and you will be making so many children happy,” Escalona said.
The booth will be at the basement of the IEC Pavilion until January 30. For inquiries, buyers may call one of the members of the organization, Belen Santos, at 0919-331-7788.