POPE Benedict XVI has declined to visit the Philippines at this time because of his busy schedule, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said yesterday.

He said he and Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, archbishop of Manila, sent a formal invitation to the Vatican in July last year.

"Probably, when he has time, Pope Benedict surely would love to visit Asia, particularly Asia’s largest Catholic country, the Philippines," he added.

Pope Benedict is set to visit Australia in July for the World Youth Day celebration.

Last month, the fisherfolk group, Pamalakaya, urged the CBCP to invite the Holy Father to come over for him to see the human rights situation in the country.

Pope Benedict recently was on a state visit to the United States where he also addressed the United Nations assembly on the human rights situations.

Two popes have been to the country, Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1981 and 1995. – Gerard Naval