Pope sending special envoy for GMA’s June 30 inaugural

Pope John Paul II is sending his special envoy to celebrate the thanksgiving Mass during the inaugural ceremonies of President Arroyo in Cebu on June 30.

The "blessed" news was relayed to Mrs. Arroyo by no less than Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

Plans originally called for the 5 p.m. Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral to be celebrated by Vidal.

But on being advised of the coming of the Pope’s alter-ego, Vidal agreed to be the co-celebrant of the Mass.

Cerge Remonde, a member of the inauguration committee, told The STAR that Vidal asked him to relay to Mrs. Arroyo the papal greetings that would be given to her in person during the inauguration.

When he told her that she was being "blessed by the Divine Providence," the President reportedly told Remonde that she was "just being a good daughter of the Church."

In a break from the long tradition of Luzon-based inaugurals, Mrs. Arroyo will take her oath of office at the provincial capitol of Cebu at noon on June 30. She will be sworn into office by Chief Justice Hilario Davide, himself a native of Cebu.

The still unnamed Vatican envoy will be accompanied by Papal Nuncio and dean of the diplomatic corps Bishop Antonio Franco to the reception for the diplomatic community at 1 p.m. at the Cebu Shangri-La hotel.

A devout Catholic who starts her official day with an early morning Mass, the 57-year-old Mrs. Arroyo paid a courtesy call on Pope John Paul II with members of her family at the Vatican last September.

The Pope was the latest world leader to congratulate Mrs. Arroyo after her pre-dawn proclamation by Congress as the winner in the May 10 presidential elections.

Among the leaders who had already sent their congratulatory messages on Mrs. Arroyo’s reelection include US President George Bush, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Palace spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that the messages were proof of "the confidence of the international community in our democracy and in the Filipino people." — Marichu Villanueva