MANILA, Philippines – After receiving a letter from President Rodrigo Duterte, Pope Francis said he will bless the president, according to Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus “Jess” Dureza.
In his Facebook account, Dureza shared that he was able to meet Pope Francis. He narrated that when the pontiff learned that he and his delegates are from the Philippines, the pope’s face brightened up.
“I said: "Bless the Philippines, Your Holiness" Pope Francis: "I will also bless your president," Dureza wrote in his post, which was accompanied by photos of their meeting during the traditional kissing of the hand or “bacciamano.”
Dureza, along with members of the government peace panel are in Rome, Italy to attend the third round of talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. They made a side trip to Vatican City to meet the Pope in the bacciamano, which only happens on Wednesdays.
Duterte's letter to the Pope, marked with the Malacañang seal, was hand delivered to the pontiff by Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay.
In his letter, President Duterte extended his warmest greetings and respect to the Pope and thanked him for his apostolic visit to the Philippines in 2015.
It was the second time that Duterte sent a letter to Pope Francis. Last year, he sent a letter of apology for reportedly cursing at the Pope because of the traffic that the visit caused.
Catholics slammed Duterte, then presidential candidate, for his disrespectful remark to the pontiff, the figurehead of the Roman Catholic Church.
He explained that he was cursing the traffic and that the profanity was not directed at the Pope.
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