MANILA, Nov. 16 (PNA) — An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (CBCP-ECSC) said that Pope Francis will be officiating Masses in Latin during his four-day papal visit to the Philippines in January 2015.
However, CBCP-ECSC chairman Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara said all the responses will be in English.
“The Masses will be in Latin but the responses will be in English,” he said in an article posted on the CBCP news website.
The Pasig prelate added that the Holy Father will be delivering his speeches to the Filipinos in English.
“But the pope is the pope of surprises. He might make off the cut comments in Italian and Spanish,” Vergara said.
Based on the official schedule of the Pope, he will be celebrating at least three Masses, one in Tacloban and two in Manila, while in the country from Jan. 15 to 19, 2015.
The Masses that will be held in Manila are: the Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral) with bishops, priest, among others, on Jan. 16 and the Mass at the Rizal Park on Jan. 18.
In Tacloban, the Mass will be held on Jan. 17 near the Tacloban International Airport.
On Friday, Catholic Church officials headed by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle announced the Vatican-approved official itinerary of the Apostolic and State Visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines early next year.
The Pope will be flying in from Sri Lanka after his three-day apostolic trip there from Jan. 12 to 15. (PNA)