Amid numerous requests for an audience with Pope Francis when he visits the Philippines in January 2015, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Thursday asked groups to understand that not all of them may be accommodated.

 

In a press briefing, Tagle said they will be forwarding the requests they receive to the Vatican organizing committee for consideration, as they lay out the final program of the papal visit scheduled on January 15 to 19. 

 

"I'm saying this kasi for the papal visit here in the Philippines, ang daming nagre-request, 'no? Baka pwedeng bumisita ang Pope sa ganito, baka pwede siyang pumunta sa ganitong community, baka pwedeng um-attend sa ganito... Kung lahat 'yon ila-line up, talaga namang ... parang trumpo 'yung Pope, 'no? Let us be realistic," the cardinal said.

 

Among those who asked for the Pope to visit them were the inmates of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. They wrote him a letter coursed through Apostolic Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto.

 

Street children are also bidding for an audience with the Pope through a thousand letters and a video.

 

According to Tagle, the Pope's official itinerary "might be available at the end of November or early part of December," following a visit from Vatican representatives, who will come back to the Philippines "to see the progress of our preparations."

 

The Pope is expected to visit areas affected by recent calamities, including Leyte, which was hit by super typhoon Yolanda in November 2013. 

 

‘Ginagawan ng paraan’

 

Tagle noted, however, that Pope Francis is known for spontaneous interactions with audiences at events he has graced, sharing his observations during the Pontiff's visit to South Korea, the first trip to Asia since being elected.

 

The Pope met with the country's religious leaders at Myeong-dong Cathedral in Seoul last August 18. Tagle shared, "'Yung kaniyang huling misa sa Seoul, an hour before the mass, they gathered the leaders of non-Christian religions. Kaya instead of visiting a mosque or Buddhist temple or what, doon na sa sacristine [na-gather] 'yung mga leaders and he spent 15 minutes with them. Nagkaroon ng inter-religious dialogue."

 

At the mass, Tagle noted that the Pope took so long in reaching the altar to greet "comfort women" who were present.

 

Tagle pointed out: "'Yun ang ibinibigay kong examples para maliwanagan ang mga tao na huwag magtatampo. Ginagawan ng paraan naman... [It may happen] but in a manner na medyo siguro reduced 'yung travel [ni Pope]."

 

"If he's interested to meet this group, pero hindi na siya ang pupunta doon sa lugar nila, baka pwede for this occasion, they (the groups) can send a delegation. But that would be determined by the organizers, with Pope na," he added.

 

Considering the Pope’s health, age

 

Tagle also said the Vatican takes into consideration the Pope's health and age whenever they map out plans for his international visits.

 

"Tinitingnan rin hindi lang 'yung security concerns. Tinitingnan din 'yung health ng Pope, kung saan siya komportable, " he said.

 

Pope Francis, who will be turning 78 on December 17, is the ninth oldest among those elected in the pontificate since 1295.

 

He also has only one whole and fully functioning lung, with his right one removed in his youth due to an infection.

 

Security concerns, Pope-mobile

 

The cardinal pointed out that they are obviously concerned about the Pope's safety in his upcoming visit, especially since people at the Vatican still remember the attack on now Blessed Paul VI at the Manila Airport in 1970.

 

Paul VI, the first Pontiff to visit the Philippines, was beatified during the closing mass of the third extraordinary synod (or meeting of bishops) last October 19, where Tagle was appointed president-delegate. 

 

"Medyo nakakalungkot nga kasi during the beatification, during the preparations for the beatification, whenever his (Paul VI's) visit to Manila was mentioned, hindi na nga masyadong naaalala 'yung bumisita siya sa Tondo. 'Yung nabuksan 'yung Radyo Veritas. Ang naaalaala ay sa airport pa lang ay may nagtangka na," he said.

 

Tagle added, however, that the government is also "very much concerned" about laying out the necessary security for Pope Francis, and that "the military and the police force, they're all doing their best."

 

As for the Pope-mobile, Tagle said, "Hintayin natin kung anong sasakyan ang lalabas."

 

"Pero as we've seen, his ordinary way of doing things, his custom, he prefers an ordinary, an open Pope-mobile, kasi nga gustong gusto niya 'yung humahawak [sa mga tao], ganu'n. Kapag may nakita siya, gusto niyang bumaba, which might be difficult kung armored," he said. —KG, GMA News