Bishop’s prayer: Let sun shine on Pope

Pope Francis. AP FILE PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—Archbishop John Du on Tuesday urged his flock to ask God to let the sun shine during the seven-hour visit of Pope Francis on Jan. 17.

“Let us all pray Oratio Imperata. The bad weather that we have been experiencing in the past really affected our preparation for the papal visit. But if we pray together, for sure we will have good weather during Pope Francis’ visit,” the head of the Archdiocese of Palo said.

An Oratio Imperata is a prayer for a special intention like deliverance from a natural calamity.

Local organizers fear attendance at the papal Mass could be fewer than the expected 150,000 if bad weather persists.

The Pope will arrive in Leyte province in the morning at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City where he will hold a Mass at the new apron.

After the Mass that is expected to last for about two hours, the Pope will motor to Palo about 12 kilometers away. There, he will meet 30 survivors of last year’s Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) and the earthquake in Bohol province.