HUNDREDS of Catholics join a procession at the launch in November of the International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City, which church officials hope can draw top Vatican officials, including Pope Francis, as participants. JUNJIE MENDOZA/CEBU DAILY NEWS ————-eucharistic
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Whether or not Pope Francis is visiting the Philippines in 2016 remains to be a guessing game.
Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili, secretary of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, said he had not received any confirmation from the Vatican on the Pope’s visit to the Philippines, most likely for the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) that will be held here.
“Sorry, I don’t know about it either,” said Balili in a text message to the Inquirer on Friday when asked to confirm or deny reports about Pope Francis’ visit.
A text message sent to Palma’s phone was left unanswered as of Friday afternoon.
Palma, in an earlier interview, said the Holy Father usually announces a visit a year before.
He, however, urged the faithful to pray that the papal visit pushes through, saying it will have an “enormous impact on our faith and our Christian life.”
Local church and IEC officials continue to hope that Francis will attend the IEC from Jan. 25 to 31, 2016.
Archbishop Piero Marini, head of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, requested that the IEC, which was originally scheduled in Cebu City on May 23 to 29, 2016, be moved to an earlier date.
To accommodate the Holy Father’s schedule, the IEC was moved to January 2016.
When Marini visited Cebu last September, he said there was no word yet on whether or not Pope Francis will attend the IEC in 2016.
The 51st IEC carries the theme “Christ in You: Our Hope of Glory.”
The proposed venue for the congress is the compound of the archdiocesan seminary in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
The IEC is held every four years to promote awareness of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Church, and to improve understanding and celebration of the liturgy.
The last time the country hosted the IEC was in 1937 in Manila.