Vatican Urges PHL to Minimize Spending on Pope Francis Visit

Manila (PIA) – The Vatican urged the Philippines to minimize expenditures in connection with the much-awaited apostolic visit of Pope Francis here in January next year.

Papal visit media relations sub-committee chair Fr. Anton Pascual recently said the Vatican wants a simple papal visit to create savings for the rehabilitation of areas devastated by typhoon Yolanda and other disasters.

“The call of the Vatican that this visit not be costly is important because the desire of the Holy Father is that donations be given instead to the victims of calamities,” Pascual said.

He also expressed Pope Francis plea that whatever graces received in terms of donations be given instead to victims of calamities, especially with the ongoing rehabilitation for Yolanda victims and survivors of the earthquake in Bohol.

But the priest said the Church is still open to donations to defray the expenses for the papal visit.

“For those who would like to help, individuals and institutions, the Church is accepting donations,” he said.

According to Fr. Pascual, donations may be coursed through Quiapo Church rector Msgr. Clemente Ignacio and Palo Archbishop John Du in Leyte. Both are part of the papal visit finance committee.

Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) secretary general Fr. Marvin Mejia said though there are many aspects of the papal visit that require funding, “it still should not be a fund raising event.”

“The bishops are donating from their own pockets and from their own personal account and not from their dioceses because there’s no fundraising in the dioceses,” Mejia said.

He added that they are on time with the preparations and everything is in place. (CBCP/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

Image Credit: www.cathnewsusa.com