Vatican replies to Duterte's apology letter

The camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday shared Vatican's reply to the presidential candidate's letter of apology to Pope Francis last January.

The letter was dated February 24, signed by Angelo Becciu of the Secretariat of State.

"The Holy Father offers the assurance of his prayers for your, as he invokes upon you the divine blessings of wisdom and peace," Bicciu says in the letter addressed to Duterte.

It was in response to Duterte's letter dated Jan. 21, 2016.

Duterte's camp has yet to reveal contents of the mayor's letter to the Pope.

The letter was sent months after Duterte cursed at Pope Francis during a speech before members of the PDP-Laban in November 2015.

Duterte is PDP-Laban's standard bearer in the May 9 elections.

In his speech, Duterte said that he got stuck in traffic during the Pope's visit in Manila in January last year.

"I have to cut this short, it's five o'clock. Timing pa sa traffic," he told supporters of PDP-Laban. "Alam mo, I advise you, mag-ihi muna kayo."

"Sabi ko, 'Bakit?' Sabi sarado na [ang daan]. Sabi ko, 'Sinong darating?' Sabi si Pope. Gusto kong tawagan, 'Pope, p— ina ka, umuwi ka na. 'Wag ka nang bumisita dito," the mayor quipped. —Trisha Macas/ALG, GMA News