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

Government declares Holiday for Pope Francis' Visit to the Philippines

The Philippine government has declared Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines a special non-working holidays for the National Capital Region (NCR). In Proclamation 936, signed December 23, Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa, declared January 15, 16 and 19 as holidays “in view of the visit of the Pope, the head of state of the Vatican City.”

Text of Proclamation 936

Mayor Joseph Estrada has also declared as a five-day, non-working holiday in Manila for Pope Francis’ visit on Jan. 15 to 19. The city government cited the millions of people from all over the country who are expected to come to Manila to see the Pope as among the reasons for the declaration of the holiday. The mayor’s order also excludes whose in public offices are involved in the maintenance of peace order, disaster and risk management, traffic enforcement, health and sanitation.

Among the venues in Manila to be visited by the Pope are the Malacañang, Manila Cathedral, University of Santo Tomas and Quirino Grandstand, where he will celebrate mass with the people. 

Epiphany: Jesus for All Humanity

The wise men from the East searched for the infant Jesus

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Tuesday in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany is the manifestation of our Lord to the whole world, which is represented by the Magi, who journeyed from the East to search for the newborn Christ.

In his homily, Pope Francis reflected on Jesus, who is for all. Jesus is for all. “That child, the Pope said, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, came not only for the people of Israel, represented by the shepherds of Bethlehem, but also for all humanity, represented today by the wise men from the East.”

He heavily reflected on the Magi and call on the faithful to imitate them. “The wise men serve as our models. The wise men point out to us the path of our journey through life.  They sought the true Light.  They set out in search of God. The wise men are thus models of conversion to the true faith, since they believed more in the goodness of God than in the apparent splendor of power.”

Mass for Epiphany presided by Pope Francis at the Vatican

New Cardinals from Unusual Places

Photo courtesy of News.va

For the second time during his papacy, Pope Francis picked new Cardinals from unusual places. The announcement came during the Sunday Angelus attended by hundred thousands faithful. The Consistory shall be done on February 14 during which 20 archbishops shall be elevated to the rank of cardinal.

The new cardinals come from 14 nations, including far-flung corners of the world such as Tonga, New Zealand, Cape Verde and Myanmar. Other cardinals hail from Ethiopia, Thailand and Vietnam. Pope Francis told the faithful in St. Peter's Square that the new cardinals come "from every continent" and "show the indelible tie with the church of Rome to churches in the world."

In addition to the new cardinals who are under 80 and thus eligible to vote for the next pope, Francis bestowed the honor on five archbishops who worked in the Vatican bureaucracy and in diplomatic service. Those included are from Argentina, Mozambique and Colombia.

Pope Francis announces the names of new Cardinals

7 Ways to Priestly Simplicity

Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas

The Christmas message of Pope Francis to the Roman Curia seems so loud it reaches the coast of the Philippines. In his New Year message to the clergy of his diocese, the CBCP President and prelate of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in the Philippines strongly enjoin his priests to live simply as a sign of solidarity with the poor. 

In his circular entitled “The Priests in the Year of the Poor”, Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas remind his priests of the original reason of the vocation to the priesthood, which with the passing of time was overshadowed by materialism and clericalism. To live out the call to simplicity, Villegas gave 7 discipline points that priests must impose on themselves in order for the Gospel to glow them. 

1.  Avoid as much as you can foreign travels and frequent recreation in expensive tourist destinations.

2.  High end cars and expensive vehicles smack of vainglory and luxury especially in a province like ours where there are so many who are poor who cannot afford a tricycle ride.

3.  We need to return to the clerical attire or clerical cross in public places as a form of witnessing to the poverty of Christ.

4.  It is a serious sin of omission for a priest not to have a regular poor person to help whether for education, health or livelihood.

5.  We must be honest in reporting to the Curia the true financial condition of the parish or school.

6.  We need to re examine what we keep in our bedrooms. A priest’s room and a bachelor’s pad are exact opposites.

7. Always give alms to the poor who come to you.

As the Philippines celebrates the Year of the Poor, Villegas said there are many things to be done but the first in the list is the simplification of priestly lifestyle. He likewise said that he imposes the discipline mentioned above first to himself before he invites the rest of the clergy.