As Pope Francis does not want an armored Popemobile during his visit to the Philippines, the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines is turning to prayer power to ensure the pontiff's safety.

 

CBCP president Socrates Villegas, in his capacity as Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop, ordered the Obligatory Novena Holy Hour for the Papal visit to ask God to ensure the pope's "safety and security" while he is in the country.

 

"Unable to use the regular security precautions like bulletproof vehicles and armed security men, we turn to the Lord and ask Him to keep the Holy Father safe from all harm. If we come together in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, we claim the Lord's blessings of security and peace and order. God is our refuge; in His love we are secure," he said in a circular to the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese .

 

He posted online a format Holy Hour to be used in parishes, religious communities, and schools.

 

Villegas said the novena for Pope Francis' safety during his Philippine visit "must be prayed in the entire Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan from Jan. 6 to 14, 2015, at a time when most of the parishioners can participate."

 

"This is an obligatory novena in the archdiocese," he added. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News