Vatican exec to address bishops

Cardinal Robert Sarah. AFP

MANILA, Philippines—A Vatican official will address members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) during its biannual plenary assembly, which will open Saturday.

Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council Cor Unum, will deliver a message on Monday, the last day of the three-day gathering, according to Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP secretary general.

Cor Unum, which means One Heart in Latin, oversees the Vatican’s worldwide charity operations.

“I think his visit has something to do with the efforts of the Church to address the situation in ‘Yolanda’-hit areas. The Cor Unum is the aid arm [of the Vatican],” Mejia said in an interview.

It can be recalled that Pope Francis donated $150,000 to the victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda in November last year through the Cor Unum.

More than 100 bishops from various dioceses are expected to tackle Church matters and pressing national concerns during the gathering to be held at Pope Pius XII Center on UN Avenue in Manila.

The CBCP traditionally issues pastoral statements after its plenary assemblies.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said earlier that the rehabilitation of areas hit by Yolanda will be one of the issues that the bishops will discuss during the assembly.