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Papal visit credited for Leyte tourist influx
Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines last January may be credited for the influx of tourists to Leyte, a Catholic Church official said Wednesday.
Fr. Chris Militante, Palo archdiocese’s spokesperson, noted many local and foreign tourists this summer went to the places the Pope visited.
In an article on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site, Militante noted that pilgrims and tourists visited the Palo Cathedral to see the statue of Mary holding the child Jesus.
The statue had been displayed during the papal Mass at the Tacloban airport.
Last January, Pope Francis visited Tacloban City and Palo town in Leyte during his Philippine visit.
Pope Francis had wanted to show his sympathy with residents affected by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013.
“The people are visiting the image of the Blessed Virgin, which is unique because it was made to illustrate the suffering of the [Yolanda victims],” Militante said.
He also noted the Pope, before the Mass, venerated and touched the image made by Willy Yalug out of yakal wood from the destroyed cathedral's debris.
Dubbed “Our Lady of Palo,” the statue depicts Mary standing on waves while carrying the baby Jesus on her waist. Jesus is lifting and saving another boy from drowning with a rosary.
Also, Miltante noted tourists also visited the archbishop’s residence where the Pope had lunch with some Yolanda victims.
“But we control those who can get inside at a certain point because the residence of the archbishop is a private place,” he said.
Donations
Militants added some people went to the archbishop's residence compound to donate to the Pope Francis Center, which includes an orphanage, clinic, and home for the elderly.
The facility is home to seven seniors and had been used as an evacuation center. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News
Fr. Chris Militante, Palo archdiocese’s spokesperson, noted many local and foreign tourists this summer went to the places the Pope visited.
In an article on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site, Militante noted that pilgrims and tourists visited the Palo Cathedral to see the statue of Mary holding the child Jesus.
The statue had been displayed during the papal Mass at the Tacloban airport.
Last January, Pope Francis visited Tacloban City and Palo town in Leyte during his Philippine visit.
Pope Francis had wanted to show his sympathy with residents affected by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013.
“The people are visiting the image of the Blessed Virgin, which is unique because it was made to illustrate the suffering of the [Yolanda victims],” Militante said.
He also noted the Pope, before the Mass, venerated and touched the image made by Willy Yalug out of yakal wood from the destroyed cathedral's debris.
Dubbed “Our Lady of Palo,” the statue depicts Mary standing on waves while carrying the baby Jesus on her waist. Jesus is lifting and saving another boy from drowning with a rosary.
Also, Miltante noted tourists also visited the archbishop’s residence where the Pope had lunch with some Yolanda victims.
“But we control those who can get inside at a certain point because the residence of the archbishop is a private place,” he said.
Donations
Militants added some people went to the archbishop's residence compound to donate to the Pope Francis Center, which includes an orphanage, clinic, and home for the elderly.
The facility is home to seven seniors and had been used as an evacuation center. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News
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