EDITORIAL – Just another test of faith

First, many Cebuanos reacted furiously over the non-inclusion of Cebu in the itinerary of Pope Francis when he visits the country this month to meet the victims of the twin disasters that rocked the  Visayas in 2013.

Then, in another major blow to Cebu preparations for the papal visit, Cebuanos were stricken off the list of calamity survivors who are set to dine with the pope during his visit to the Visayas.

Initially, it was announced that at least five Cebuanos will be part of the group of calamity victims set to share a meal with the pope when he meets with super typhoon Yolanda victims in Palo, Leyte.

Some Cebuanos find the snub a bitter pill to swallow. Others have even criticized the decision of the papal visit organizers to exclude Cebu from the two special occasions, contending that the province  also had its share of devastation during Yolanda's onslaught.

Yes we cannot erase the fact that Cebuanos, especially those in the northern areas of the province, also need the pope's attention during his visit to the country to sympathize with and pray for the victims.

Of course, the papal visit organizers should know that the sufferings of thousands of Yolanda victims in Cebu are as severe as those in Eastern Visayas. And there's really no need for them to be reminded.

Forget about Cebu holding a lofty status as the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines that Cebuanos should deserve front seats during the gathering with the leader of the Catholic Church.

This is not about rubbing elbows with the pope. The issue here, for many Cebuanos, is about having the privilege to personally show to his holiness that their faith remains intact despite the brutal test from the strongest typhoon ever to make landfall.

But now that Cebu is out of the picture, life has to go on. The snub should not be made a reason for Cebuanos to lose even the smallest fraction of their religious devotion. Instead, they should regard it as just another test of faith.