CATHOLIC bishops said on Thursday that they will appeal to Pope Francis to help the Philippines address climate change, a phenomenon which urgently needs the Church’s “moral intervention.”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said their appeal will be contained in a letter that will be given by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle to Pope Francis, who arrived in the country on Thursday afternoon.
Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of the National Secretariat for Social Action-Caritas Philippines (Nassa), said the Philippines has topped the list of countries most affected by natural disasters, such as strong typhoons and floods. Nassa is the social action arm of the CBCP.
Gariguez cited in particular Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan), which killed more than 6,000 people and brought “catastrophic misery to our people.”
“Facing hunger, increased mortality due to temperature increase, more destruction from extreme weather events, the Philippines is at the doorstep of all major threats of climate change,” he said.
Gariguez said Catholic bishops would also ask the pope to demand governments to commit to various climate-change mitigation measures and to support calls that would end the continued burning of fossil fuel and other projects that threaten the environment.
Francis is expected to issue an encyclical on climate change within the year to spur global action to address it.
Meanwhile, the CBCP said there will be no changes in the itinerary of Francis despite the threat posed by Tropical Storm Amang which could bring torrential rains in parts of Luzon and the Visayas.
Archbishop Socrates Villages, president of CBCP, made the statement after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said moderate to heavy rain is expected in Leyte and Manila where the pontiff will hold masses on Saturday and Sunday.
Earlier reports said there is a possibility that Francis’s visit in Tacloban and Palo in Leyte on Saturday would be canceled due to the tropical storm.
Palo Archbishop John Du, however, said it’s all systems go for Francis’s visit in Leyte. Du also said any changes in the pontiff’s five-day visit would have to come from the Vatican.
Francis’s plane touched down at the Villamor Air Base at 5:32 p.m. on Thursday. President Aquino, other government officials, Church representatives and hundreds of school-children were on hand to welcome the pontiff.
The pope traveled to the Apostolic Nunciature in Paco, Manila aboard a customized Isuzu D-Max popemobile. Thousands of Catholics patiently waited along the route of the papal convoy to get a glimpse of His Holiness.
On Friday morning, Francis will meet Mr. Aquino in Malacañang as part of the official rites for the visiting head of the Vatican state. Government agencies are set to enforce more stringent security measures to ensure a glitch-free meeting between the pontiff and President Aquino.
As head of the Vatican, listed as the smallest state in the world, Francis will be accorded full military honors when he arrives at the Palace.
Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said the meeting would be “freewheeling.”
“I think as of now, there is no set agenda. There has been no intimation of any specific agenda item for discussion,” Coloma said.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) said on Thursday that all general aviation flights will be prohibited within the country from Saturday morning until Monday morning.
Caap issued a Notice to Airmen, which indicated that special operations will be effective at 5 a.m. on January 17 until 7:59 a.m. on January 19.
Rodante Joya, Caap deputy director general for operations, said the no-fly zone and no-drone policy are in effect on Thursday on areas covered by an earlier Notam issued by the agency, including flying schools operating nationwide.
Joya sought the public’s understanding on the inconvenience that may be caused by the restrictions on Philippine air space.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also called on Catholic faithful to junk prank text messages and information that could otherwise compromise security and muddle the fruitful stay and visit of Francis in the country.
AFP Chief of Staff Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. made the appeal following a last-minute briefing on security preparations made by concerned government agencies.
Image credits: Alysa Salen