Palace: Pope Francis visit will be ‘moment of joy’ for PH

Pope Francis stands next to his good friend Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka, left, after praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel, Monday, May 26, 2014.  AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—News that Pope Francis will be visiting the Philippines next year was a pleasant surprise, to say the least.

“This is a moment of joy,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters on Wednesday.

“It’s always a time of joy whenever the pope comes to the Philippines,” he added, recalling the Filipinos’ “exuberance” when the late Pope John Paul II visited the country back in 1981 and 1995.

Lacierda said the visit would be something to look forward to, especially for a country like the Philippines.

“We are a country [where] majority of the population are Catholics. This would be an opportunity for us to welcome His Holiness Pope Francis,” he said.

The spokesperson said they have yet to discuss the preparations for the much anticipated event.

Reports said Pope Francis would visit areas devastated by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan).

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