DFA chief meets with Pope Francis

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has met with Pope Francis as part of preparations for the papal visit to the Philippines in January next year.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Del Rosario was in the Vatican from Sept. 1 to 3.

He discussed details for the pope’s visit with the Vatican Foreign Minister, Archbishop Dominique Memberti.

The DFA said the meeting was also initiated to further enhance relations between the Catholic Church and the Philippine government.

Pope Francis will visit the country from Jan. 15 to 19 after his visit to Sri Lanka.

He is expected to meet with Typhoon Yolanda survivors and victims of the magnitude-7.2 earthquake that devastated Bohol.

Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso said the pope would share a meal with the typhoon victims when he visits Palo, Leyte.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas has started distributing life-size standees of Pope Francis in parishes and schools as part of the promotional campaign for his visit next year.

Fr. Anton Pascual, president of Radio Veritas, said the distribution started last week in various churches in Metro Manila.

In Manila, the standees were put up at the Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros, Caritas Manila in Pandacan and Sto. Nino Parish in Tondo.

Standees of Pope Francis were also distributed at the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Diliman and Christ the King Church along E. Rodriguez in Quezon City.

In Makati City, the standees were displayed at the national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park and Greenbelt chapel.

The standees were put up at SM Megamall, dioceses of Antipolo and Pasig and Assumption in Antipolo.

“We are planning to print more so we can distribute it to as many churches, organizations and selected schools,” the priest said.

Pascual said the standees are expected to attract the faithful, especially those who want to take their “selfie” with the pontiff.

The Mary and the Popes exhibit at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, which runs until Sept. 28, is also part of the papal awareness campaign of Radio Veritas.

“We want to promote his advocacies and make people get to know him more through his biography, quotes, pictures, especially since Radio Veritas will be the official papal radio. Everything you want to know about the pope you’ll hear it there,” Pascual said.– With Edu Punay