Vatican to hold ocular inspection of IEC venue in Cebu

A 15-member team from the Vatican will arrive in the Philippines this September to inspect the venue of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in 2016—an event Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio) might attend.

 

Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said the team will stay in Cebu, the venue of the event, from September 5 to 10.

 

"They will stay in Cebu until September 10. Aside from the ocular inspection, they will give suggestions and we would expect more meaningful and fruitful celebration as of now," Palma said in an article posted Wednesday on the CBCP news site.

 

Leading the team is Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee on the IEC.

 

From Cebu, Marini’s group will then travel to Manila for another meeting with Filipino theologians who are involved in the preparations of the IEC.

 

The Cebu archdiocese is considering that some activities of the congress should be held at the Waterfront Hotel and Cebu International Convention Center.

 

It also reiterated its hopes Pope Francis will be able visit the Philippines for the occasion from January 25 to 31, 2016.

 

“We appreciate the assistance given to us by the Committee in Rome and we feel that it’s a good privilege to host this event,” Palma said.

 

The IEC was originally scheduled for May 2016 but the Vatican requested to have it moved to an earlier date since Pope Francis had prior engagements in May.

 

Earlier, Palma said the definite decision will be known mostly likely a year before the event with the theme, “Christ in You: Our Hope of Glory.”

 

He also said that among the preparations for the congress is choosing the logo and the theme song. — VC, GMA News