Mini-Vatican Joins Pope Francis to the Philippines

Pope Francis in one of his travels

Whenever a Pope goes out of Italy for his apostolic visit, TV screens show him walking down and up the tarmac alone. The truth is, just like any head of state visiting another state, the Pope brings with him his official family. Behind the Pope and unseen by camera lenses are the members of his official delegations. The workforce that travels with Pope Francis can be compared to a mobile mini-Vatican.  

Ten days before Pope Francis flies to the Philippines, the official website for the papal visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines has published the papal entourage. The list includes cardinals, doctors, personal aide and Swiss guards. All in all, the delegation comprises 32 persons and that does not include the accredited journalists who will also join in the papal flight.

Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Francis to Philippines 

15-19 January 2014

Papal Entourage

      1. H.E.Card. Pietro PAROLIN, Secretary of State of His Holiness

2. H.E.Card. Fernando FILONI, Prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples

3. H.E.Card. Robert SARAH, Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship

4. H.E.Card. Luis Antonio TAGLE, Archbishop of Manila

5. H.E.Msgr.Giovanni Angelo BECCIU, Substitute of the Secretariat of State

6. H.E.Msgr. Socrates B. VILLEGAS, President Bishops’ Conference (Arch.Lingayen-Dagupan)

7. H.E. Msgr. Giuseppe PINTO, Apostolic Nuncio in Philippines

8.  Msgr. Mark Gerard MILES, Official of the Secretariat of State

9.  Rev. Msgr Chibuike ONYEAGHALA, Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature

10.  Rev. Seamus Patrick HORGAN, Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature

11.  Dr. Alberto GASBARRI, Chief Organiser of the Papal Visit

12.  Fr. Federico LOMBARDI SJ, Director of the Holy See Press Office

13.  Msgr. Dario Edoardo VIGANÒ, Director of the Vatican Television Centre (CTV)

14.  Prof. Giovanni Maria VIAN, Editor-in-chief of  L’Osservatore Romano

15.  Prof. Patrizio POLISCA, Personal Doctor of the Holy Father

16.  Mr Sandro MARIOTTI, Personal Aide of the Holy Father

17.  Mr Piergiorgio ZANETTI, Personal Aide of the Holy Father

18.  Dr. Giampiero VETTURINI,  Health services Dept. of the Vatican City State

19.  Dr. Domenico GIANI, Director of Vatican Security Serv. and Civil Protection

20.  Dr. Paolo CORVINI, Assistant for the Organization of the Papal Visit

21.  Mr Umberto CIVITARESE, Technician of Vatican Radio

22.  Mr Roberto BELLINO, Technician of Vatican Radio

23.  Mr Francesco SFORZA, Official Photographer (L’Osservatore Romano)

24.  Mr  Cesare CUPPONE, Official Cameraman (Vatican Television Centre)

25.  Mr Fabrizio STINELLIS, Official Cameraman (Vatican Television Centre)

26.  Lieut.Cor. Christoph GRAF,  Pontifical Swiss Guard

27.  Capt.. Lorenzo MERGA, Pontifical Swiss Guard

28. Vice-Commis. Mauro DE HORATIS, Vatican Gendarmerie

29. Vice-Comm. Davide GIULIETTI, Vatican Gendarmerie

30.  Insp. Marco BERNARDI, Vatican Gendarmerie

31. V.Insp. Massimo DOTTORI, Vatican Gendarmerie

32. Mr Giovanni FERRACANE, Vatican Official