Vatican official: 'Cebu a good choice' for Pope's visit

MANILA, Philippines - A Vatican official said Cebu City is a worthy venue for a major Catholic gathering that would likely be attended by Pope Francis in 2016.

“Cebu is a good choice ... There is no need of a rich town, or a town in the Western area,” Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congress Vittore Boccardi said in a report.

Francis has approved last June Cebu City as the gathering's venue from January 25 to 31 that year. Dublin, Ireland played host in 2012.

Boccardi led a team from the Vatican that flew to the country earlier this month to inspect Cebu as a possible venue for the congress.

He said Cebu's staunchly Catholic community will be supportive of the event where hundreds of pilgrims from around the world will arrive.

"We did everything to facilitate the visit of the Holy Father. Now, what is left to do is for the Holy Father to make his decision whether to come to Cebu for the celebration or not," the priest said.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has said in the 2012 gathering that as pope, he would be attending the 2016 congress.

"I would like to invite you to join me in praying for God’s blessing upon the next International Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in 2016 in the city of Cebu!" Benedict XVI then said as pope.

It has not yet been confirmed, however, whether Francis himself will fly to Cebu.

Related: Vatican reps to inspect venues for 2016 Eucharistic Congress

The Eucharistic Congress is held every four years wherein the Pope celebrates the last Mass called statio orbis.