Palma: Pray, Pope Francis might even surprise Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - “We should pray and hope for intervention and who knows he will surprise us.”

This was how Archbishop Jose Palma expressed his hope that Pope Francis would also visit Cebu, if not between January 15 to 19 next year during the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.

Cebu is not included in the pope’s itinerary decided upon by Rome when he visits Yolanda-stricken areas January next year, but Palma said they are hopeful that Pope Francis may do so June 2016.

“Yes we can always make requests and proposals but it’s Rome that will decide; but we still hope even if he has another Asian country to visit,” Palma said.

He said it is not really necessary that the pope would appear or be in an IEC activity.

“We do not really expect that pope is coming but for the sake of peace in Mindanao and those who were also hit by the typhoon (Yolanda) and earthquake let’s pray harder,” Palma said.

He admitted that even before the Pope’s official itinerary was made public, they had a meeting with Manila Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop Socrates Villegas and other archbishops for the inclusion of Cebu.

He said he was pushing to include Cebu up to the instant when Rome decided on the pope’s final activities, which the archbishops cannot contravene.

Elvira Go, head of the National Promotions and Publicity Committee for the 51st IEC, said popes usually never attend IECs because public attention may center on him instead of on the activity and of God.

“That is one of the reasons why I think popes would not attend IECs. We should give Jesus a chance to shine this time,” Go said, adding that it was only in India when a pope visited an IEC gathering.

As part of the IEC activities next year, the local committee launched the IEC 2016 Painting and Photo Contest Sunday afternoon at The Gallery, Ayala Center Cebu.

Palma and some renowned artist of Cebu graced the activity. The IEC committee is inviting local and international participants to join the contest, which would run on January 24 to 31 next year.

“The activity is (meant) to stir awareness among people about faith and relationship to God…. and that peace and not war should be spread to the world and,” Go told a press conference.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General John Bonafos, Armed Forces of the Philippines vice chief of staff, said the armed forces is also helping the police in terms of security preparations for the papal visit this January.

Bonafos said that possible threats during the papal visit are carefully examined to see if they are likely to happen and that it is likely to happen for them to prepare for a contingency plan. 

“Lahat ng possibility ng threat ay ating ini-esksaming mabuti kung ito ba ay magagamap o hindi, sapagkat we have to prepare contingency plan for these threats that we can foresee,” Bonafos said.

He said the AFP will support the police in suppressing any violent activities or disturbance that might happen during Pope Fancis’ visit, especially in the typhoon stricken Tacloban City.

“We have to deny any violent activities or disturbance na mangyayari during sa visit sa Pope kung kaya’t as early as now ginagawa na natin ang war gaming process in any scenario na mangyayari,” Bonafos added.

Although Tacloban City has not been declared as “insurgency free,” he said they have not monitored any presence of armed group intyphoon stricken city.

“Ang kagandahan nito ay wala tayong nakikitang armed activity sa Tacloban. Kung sino man ang mangugulo doon will be put on the bad side,” Bonafos said.

“Kung ito’y gawawin nila sa area na napinsala ng bagyo mora’g sobra na. Tanang katawhan sa Leyte ay maggfaklas laban sa kanila, hindi na Armed Forces kon di ang katawhan na ang molihok,” he added.  (FREEMAN)