‘Pope should time Leyte visit with Cebu congress’

Flanked by Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith of Sri Lanka, Pope Francis delivers his blessing after a Mass for the Sri Lankan community in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. (AP Photo)

Pope Francis, who  ordered the construction of an orphanage, clinic and home for the aged in Palo, Leyte, wants to visit the province which was badly hit by supertyphoon Yolanda.
Palo  Archbishop John Du said a visit would be most welcome but he suggested timing the visit for  January 2016, when the International Eucharistic Congress would be held in Cebu City.

Du said he suggested this to  Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, since having two visits to the Philippines so close to each other would not be feasible.
“I’m afraid a visit to Leyte now may be anti-climactic for Cebu,” he said.

Du spoke during the 83rd birthday celebration of Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal .
“According to Cardinal Sarah, Pope Francis wants to be with us.  The Holy Father reportedly has a very strong desire to be with the victims of supertyphoon Yolanda,” Du said.

The cardinal reminded  Du that no one can anticipate what the Pope is  thinking.

Cardinal Sarah said sometimes Pope Francis would just come to a place without notice. The Holy Father told Cardinal Sarah “You go now (to the Philippines). I will follow someday,” said Du, a native of Bantayan, Cebu.

“We will be very happy if he comes but I hope it would be aligned to the IEC in 2016. If he will come twice, I don’t know,” Du said.

Project

The orphanage, clinic and home for the aged to be built in Palo will be  financed by the Vatican.
“ After these buildings are put up, the archdiocese (of Palo) will be the one to administer it,” Du  told reporters.

Du said he decided to have the buildings built  within the archbishop’s residential  compound because he also wants to live with the recipients of Pope Francis’ projects.
Last month, Cardinal  Sarah led the groundbreaking ceremony for the facilities.

It will include a  convent for  nuns who will manage the facilities, a chapel and a dispensary.

The Vatican said a summer trip to South Korea by Pope Francis appeared more likely since he plans to beatify 124 Korean martyrs  who perished for their faith in Korea in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Beatification is the last formal step before sainthood in the Catholic church.
The martyrs were killed “out of hatred to the faith in Korea,” the Vatican said.
Last month, the Vatican said a papal trip to South Korea in August was under consideration.
The Vatican said it is considering a trip for Pope Francis to Sri Lanka and to the Philippines, but not this year. \

With an AP report