Pope Francis to visit Phl in 2016?

MANILA, Philippines - Will the Philippines play host to Pope Francis in 2016?

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, raised this possibility, citing a letter he received from the Vatican concerning the date of the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).

On CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the CBCP, Palma said the Vatican asked if they could move the IEC in Cebu City four months ahead of its initial schedule, or from May 23 to 29, 2016 to Jan. 25 to 31, 2016.

Palma said the request to change the date was made by Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee on the IEC.

“Two weeks ago, we received a letter from Archbishop Marini asking us if we could move the event to the second preferred date because the Pope has another schedule in May,” Palma said.

“We told them that January is fine because our suggestion was to make the Pope’s visit to the Philippines a priority,” he added.

Palma asked Filipinos to continue praying that the papal visit will push through.

“We know that the Pope continues to inspire us and his visit will have an enormous impact on our faith and our Christian life,” he added.

Held every four years, the IEC 2016 will reflect on the theme “Christ in You: Our Hope of Glory.”

The event is expected to draw thousands of participants, including the laity and Church leaders from various countries.

The last pope to visit the country was Pope John Paul II on Jan. 11-21, 1995 for the World Youth Day.