Cebu City not giving up on Francis

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City is not giving up on Pope Francis just yet.

Yesterday, Mayor Michael Rama said the city will send a formal request to the Vatican to request for the city’s inclusion in the Pope’s itinerary during his visit to the Philippines in January 2015.

“I will again make a position… buhatan communication officially coming from me or coming from the City Council… Naa na man sad gyud siya diri sa Pilipinas, nganong dili naman lang (include Cebu City in his visit)?,” Rama said.

The Pope will be in the Philippines from January 15 to 19. Among the places he will visit are Tacloban City, Palo, Leyte and Manila.

Rama said that more than anything else, Cebu deserves a visit because it is the seat of Christianity in Asia. In fact, next year, the city will celebrate the 450th year of ‘Kaplag” or the discovery of the image of the Santo Niño and the 50th anniversary of the Santo Niño church as Basilica Minore. The Pope’s visit to the country also coincides with the annual Sinulog.

“That put all together is a justification why the Pope should not ignore Cebu as part of his itinerary. We are not asking for days we are only asking for his visit,” Rama said.

He called on Cebuanos to support the appeal.

“It will also bring another rainfall or outpouring of tourists coming in and that will be a very good cultural, social, historical, religious and spiritual elevation of Cebu,” he added.

Rama said he will also ask the provincial government to join the city in its official communication to the Vatican.

Asked about security concerns, Rama said it should not be a cause for worry because peace and order is “everybody’s business.”

Basilica rector Fr. Jonas Mejares earlier expressed disappointment over Vatican’s decision.

“Human as I am, I am disappointed. Being the rector of the cradle of Christianity, I can’t help but be dismayed. But if you look at the bigger picture, there must be a reason why this happened,” he said.

Monsignor Joseph Tan, the archdiocese’s head for social communication, said that even with the decision, the faithful should still be grateful that the Pope will be visiting the country. — Mechelle P. Florita (FREEMAN)