MANILA, Philippines—Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said that it was Pope Francis himself who reminded him that his visit to the Philippines should not be focused on him but on Jesus Christ.
Speaking during the INQUIRER Conversations at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila, Tagle recounted personally asking the Pope in 2013 to visit the Philippines. He said he was glad after Francis accepted the invitation. He described the Pope’s visit as “a blessing.”
Tagle also clarified that the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines is not meant to coincide with the 20th anniversary of now St. John Paul II’s visit to the country.
John Paul II came to the Philippines for the second time on Jan. 12 to 15, 1995 to lead the celebration of the World Youth Day in Manila.
Pope Francis is expected to arrive in the Philippines on January 15 and will visit typhoon-ravaged Visayas, among others, to meet with the survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan).
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