The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has launched the official book on the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines.
The CBCP on Thursday launched the 160-page book “I am here to be with you,” which documents the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines from January 15-19.
CBCP President and Lingayen Archbishop Socrates Villegas described the book as the second-best documentation of the Papal visit.
“The best documentation of the Papal visit is the one hundred million Filipinos touched by Pope Francis,” Villegas said in his message before Catholic devotees.
READ: Pope’s 4-day visit a ‘miracle’
He said the book is a “weak attempt” to document the papal visit, citing that it is impossible to document the impact of Pope Francis to the Filipino people.
“Let us open our hearts to his message of humility, humanity and his humor and please keep in mind that better than the book, you are the best documentation of the papal visit,” he said.
He said Pope Francis came to the Philippines not as an Argentinian speaking a different language.
“He is so much like us…He came like one of us,” he said.
CBCP launches the “second-best” documentation of Pope Francis’ visit in the Philippines. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net
According to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the book would serve as a reminder to Filipinos to keep the teachings of Pope Francis alive.
“Hopefully, through this book, our hearts will be stirred again, our hearts will be disturbed, our hearts will start again and again to return to the Word of God, whom the Holy Father tried to witness through us,” Tagle said.
READ: Francis on PH visit: It rained on my parade, but beautiful!
He said being able to witness Pope Francis was not just a privilege but a “mission.”
He recalled Pope Francis saying to him that “there is a future of the church in Asia” after visiting Asian countries for his apostolic tour.
The Papal book contains photographs during the five-day visit of Pope Francis including the full text of the speeches he delivered during his apostolic visit.
First-hand narratives of Tagle were also included in the book as well as messages from people who had a close encounter with the Pope.
The book will be exclusively distributed by Goodwill Bookstore and the Catholic Book Center for P1,200. IDL