Malacañan Palace
29 January 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed the President of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” His Excellency Robert Cardinal Sarah in Malacañang.

The Vatican official visited storm-ravaged areas in Tacloban City and a hospital dedicated to the poor. He also officiated a mass, distributed food packs at the St. Elizabeth of Hungary mission church and broke ground for a proposed orphanage and home for the elderly in Palo, Leyte.

In a recent report, the Cardinal said that he will ask Pope Francis to visit the country to personally comfort the victims and pray with them. An invitation was sent to Pope Francis to lead the 51st International Eucharistic Congress that will be held in Cebu from Jan. 24 to 31, 2016. At least 15,000 delegates all over the world are expected to attend.

Also present during the call were Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan Garcia, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, Cor Unum Undersecretary Rev. Msgr. Segundo Muñoz, and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) chairperson Henrietta de Villa.

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