Pope Francis' meeting with PNoy to be a ‘personal encounter'

The meet between Pope Francis and President Benigno Aquino III, scheduled for Friday morning, would be a personal encounter rather than a discussion on political matters, Vatican spokesperson Fr. Federico Lombardi said Thursday afternoon.

 

Lombardi explained that the Pope preferred this kind of meeting, which could be characterized as "friendly."

 

"In this occasion, the Pope and the President will have a short time to be together and normally the Pope prefers to have a personal encounter," said the Vatican spokesman.

 

"[The Pope] is more attentive to the personality of the [person, rather] than some political particular points that can be discussed [by the diplomats]."
 

Lombardi would not reveal the talking points the Holy Father and the President would touch on during their meeting, though the Pope's first public address would be made right after.

 

Pope Francis will also meet the Cabinet and the diplomatic corps on Friday, after which he will proceed to the Manila Cathedral to celebrate mass with the bishops, priests, and the religious men and women of the Church.

 

Pope Francis arrived in the country for a five-day state visit and apostolic journey Thursday. He was greeted by around a million Filipinos, who gathered between the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City and the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila. — DVM, GMA News