Pope Francis worried about PH – bishop

Pope Francis. AP File Photo

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar — Pope Francis is worried about the Philippines, the country he is scheduled to visit next month, as it faces a strong typhoon.

Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez said Pope Francis has heard about the typhoon “Ruby” and the fact that the province of Eastern Visayas is again in a storm’s path.

A vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican is also being held by the bishops as they worry about the fate of Eastern Samar, he added.

“He (the pope) is worried,” Varquez said in Waray in his homily during a special mass held at the bishop’s residence, which currently caters to 132 families or 722 individuals.

Varquez officiated the mass on the fourth-floor of the four-storey building as evacuees sat on mats and mattresses, hours before the expected landfall of typhoon.

In his homily, Varquez appealed to everyone to be “thoughtful” of other people during trying times.  He also appealed to business owners not to take advantage of the disaster to justify the increase in prices of basic commodities.

Ruby is expected to hit Borongan, Eastern Samar on Sunday morning.