Top Vatican official’s visit raises hope Pope to arrive next

JUST HOW STRONG the faith of the people of Palo, Leyte is has been put to a test by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.” Churchgoers persist in hearing Mass at the Palo cathedral with tarpaulins above their heads serving as the cathedral’s roof after Yolanda’s 300 kph winds blew the structure’s roof away. GUIJO DUENAS

PALO, LEYTE—The visit of a high ranking Vatican official representing Pope Francis to this town is raising local church officials’ hopes that their prayers would be answered to repair or rebuild churches destroyed or damaged by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” and for the Pope himself to visit.

It is uncertain which wish is more fervent for the church officials, but a visit by Pope Francis would certainly lift spirits in a place flattened by the world’s most powerful storm in recent years and where the people are on the edge of despair.

Plan

Archbishop John Du said the visit by Robert Cardinal Sarah, who came to represent the Pope, is an indication that Pope Francis himself may arrive in the town, which has a population of more than a million Catholics.

“The Holy Father might just come,” said Du. “There is a plan,” he said adding that there is no date for that much anticipated visit yet.

In the meantime, church officials in the town may have to be content with the visit of Sarah to represent Francis who, according to Du, expressed “oneness and solidarity” with the people.

Sarah, head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council Cor Unum responsible for charity and humanitarian work, celebrated Mass at the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Barangay Libertad, some 4 kilometers from the town proper. A tarpaulin has replaced the church’s roof, which had been blown away by Yolanda’s 300 kilometer per hour winds.

“He was so disheartened when he saw the massive devastation caused by Yolanda,” said Henrietta de Villa, former

ambassador to the Vatican who was among those who accompanied Sarah.

‘Never abandon’

In a homily, Sarah said the faithful should rest assured that God would never abandon them, saying he came to visit on behalf of Francis.

“The Holy Father wishes to express in my person, the closeness and indeed the loving and compassionate presence to you of the Lord Jesus and the entire Church,” he said.

Fr. Dean Michael Calaneja, parish priest of the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, said he hoped that Sarah’s visit would hasten the repair of his church. Archbishop Du said at least 70 churches in his archdiocese had been damaged or destroyed by the storm.

Du said the cathedral of Palo alone would cost P35 million to repair.