Trouble
By BERNARD KARGANILLA | September 12,2019
‘Trouble, big trouble, real trouble, was coming down hard and fast.’
September 12, 2019, 2:23 pm
Duterte sends Pope Francis a letter
By JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
January 19, 2017
PRESIDENT Duterte sent a personal letter to Pope Francis to express the country’s gratitude for his visit in January 2015 and – hold your breath – assure the pontiff of his “highest esteem and respect.” Never a “p” reference although the traffic Duterte the candidate complained of in 2015 is still there today.
The letter was personally handed by peace adviser Jesus Dureza to the Pope Wednesday in Rome during the traditional “baciamano (kissing of hand).”
Dureza made a side trip to Vatican during a break in the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and National Democratic Front in Rome.
Dureza, in his Facebook account, posted photos of him and Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. while reading the letter that the President prepared, followed by photos of him with the Pope.
“I said: ‘Bless the Philippines, Your Holiness.’ Pope Francis: ‘I will also bless your President,’” Dureza said.
Dureza also posted a photo of Duterte’s three-paragraph letter.
The letter said:
“With profound respect, I have the honor to extend my own and my people’s warmest greetings to Your Holiness.
“Our countrymen remember Your Holiness’ apostolic visit in 2015 with deep appreciation, knowing that it was made with the most sincere regard for the welfare of the Church’s flock.
“The Philippines values its special relations with the Holy See and regards with gratitude Your Holiness’ gracious stewardship of the Catholic faith. Please accept, Your Holiness, the assurances of my highest esteem and respect.”
Duterte, while a presidential candidate last year, cursed the Pope for snarling traffic during his visit. He later apologized and said he wants to visit the Vatican to personally make his apology but later changed his mind and said that he will just send a personal letter.
The letter was personally handed by peace adviser Jesus Dureza to the Pope Wednesday in Rome during the traditional “baciamano (kissing of hand).”
Dureza made a side trip to Vatican during a break in the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and National Democratic Front in Rome.
Dureza, in his Facebook account, posted photos of him and Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. while reading the letter that the President prepared, followed by photos of him with the Pope.
“I said: ‘Bless the Philippines, Your Holiness.’ Pope Francis: ‘I will also bless your President,’” Dureza said.
Dureza also posted a photo of Duterte’s three-paragraph letter.
The letter said:
“With profound respect, I have the honor to extend my own and my people’s warmest greetings to Your Holiness.
“Our countrymen remember Your Holiness’ apostolic visit in 2015 with deep appreciation, knowing that it was made with the most sincere regard for the welfare of the Church’s flock.
“The Philippines values its special relations with the Holy See and regards with gratitude Your Holiness’ gracious stewardship of the Catholic faith. Please accept, Your Holiness, the assurances of my highest esteem and respect.”
Duterte, while a presidential candidate last year, cursed the Pope for snarling traffic during his visit. He later apologized and said he wants to visit the Vatican to personally make his apology but later changed his mind and said that he will just send a personal letter.
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