Duterte honors outgoing Papal Nuncio Gabriele Caccia

President Rodrigo Duterte honored Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia who is set to leave the Philippines soon for a United Nations assignment.

Caccia paid a farewell call on Duterte in Malacañang on Wednesday during which the President awarded the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu to the Italian prelate.

The Order of Sikatuna is a diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines.

It is also given diplomats, officials, and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous service in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines.

Apart from Caccia, the President conferred the Order of Sikatuna upon outgoing Vietnam Ambassador Ly Quoc Tuan.

Last month, Pope Francis named Caccia permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. Caccia will end his tour of duty in the Philippines on December 22 and will report to the UN in January 2020.

Pope Francis appointed Caccia papal nuncio to the Philippines in September 2017.

During Caccia’s time in the Philippines, Duterte had repeatedly lambasted the Catholic Church even though he considers Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles as his friend.

Duterte even brought up the supposed misdeeds of clergymen and claimed to have been molested by a priest when he was a young student.

He also said the clergy should not use the pulpit to attack him and his policies, particularly the war on drugs.

Last year, Duterte drew flak from religious groups and politicians after he remarked that God is “stupid.” — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News