For queries on papal visit, organizers release video

Pope Francis. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Do you have any queries about the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines next month?

The organizing committee has released a video on papalvisit.ph, the official papal visit website, to answer some of the frequently asked questions.

One of the questions most frequently received by the committee was how or where to buy tickets to the papal events.

“No tickets are issued, given away or sold by papal visit organizers, so beware of anyone who tries to sell you passes, accreditation cards or tickets to any papal event,” said Ana Cosio of the papal visit social media team.

“All events may be witnessed by the public although the meetings with particular interest groups, such as the youth, religious and families, will be participated in by preselected representatives,” she added.

The organizers explained that the papal meeting with families at Mall of Asia Arena would be attended by families preselected by the dioceses.

“Therefore your best source of information would be your own parish or the diocesan office wherever in the Philippines you happen to be. Your parish priest will be the proper conduit to the bishop and should be able to provide specific answers to your questions,” Cosio said, responding to those asking how they could join the event.

Those who want to send donations for the papal visit may deposit them to Bank of the Philippine Islands Current Account no. 0051-0556-75 or to Security Bank Savings Account no. 0061-015085-001.

“All donations will be receipted so when you deposit, please call the papal visit finance committee at (02)5272995 or e-mail a copy of the deposit slip to [email protected] so that your contribution may be properly identified and receipted,” Cosio said.

Some asked about the itinerary of the Pope, particularly why the visit to Malacañang was first on the list of his activities.

Organizers explained that the Pope’s visit was both a state and a pastoral visit.

“Being the head of state of the Vatican City, the Pope is also welcomed by the head of state of the host country. He will be given arrival honors, have bilateral talks with President Aquino and address government officials and the diplomatic corps in Malacañang,” the committee said.

For those asking if the Holy Father would also meet with HIV/AIDS patients, organizers said this was not in the official itinerary.

“To date, the visits program seems set and there is no mention of a dialogue with HIV-AIDS patients. Just for your information, it’s the Vatican that decides on the itinerary and all the activities during the visit,” the committee said.

The video created by the papal visit social media team is just the first of a series of videos.

Francis will be in the country on Jan. 15-19. He will visit, among others, the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in Leyte and Samar provinces.

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