Cardinal Tagle: Only two of Pope Francis’ events open to public

Only two of 11 events during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines will be open to the public, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said.

 

Tagle said that except for the two papal Masses in Manila and Tacloban City, all other events are by invitation only.

 

"In some of the events like the encounter with the families... because of the constraint also of the venues, only representatives from different sectors or provinces will be accommodated," he said, according to an article posted Wednesday on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site.

 

He referred to the “Meeting with the Families” at the Mall of Asia Arena at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 16.

 

Each archdiocese and diocesewill send representatives to the gathering. The arena has a seating capacity of 15,000 but can hold as many as 20,000 people.

 

“How these families will be selected is up to the bishops of the diocese,” said Tagle.

 

On the other hand, the Mass at the Manila Cathedral on January 16 may be open to only 2,000 bishops, priests, and religious.

 

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said the papal visit central committee asked every diocese to send only 10 priests and five religious women for the Mass.

 

Manila Cathedral rector Msgr. Nestor Cerbo said security preparations are now underway, with video walls set up outside the cathedral for those who cannot get in.

 

Open papal masses

 

The Mass at Tacloban City airport in Leyte is scheduled at 10 a.m. on January 17. The Mass at the Luneta in Manila is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 18.

 

Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Palo Cathedral to bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor, which seeks to care of the elderly, orphans and the less privileged, in Leyte.

 

In Manila, the Pope will meet with religious leaders and have an encounter with the youth at the University of the Santo Tomas campus in Manila on January 18. —NB, GMA News