CBCP tackles Visita Iglesia as IATF allows more attendees

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Church is gearing up for this year’s Holy Week observation after the government’s task force on COVID-19 increased to 50 percent the capacity of venues for religious gatherings.

In an interview, Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said that they are now discussing the details on how the Holy Week will be observed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But Pabillo said they are still working on how to address the “Visita Iglesia,” as it involves movement of people, which is strictly prohibited by the government because of the pandemic.

“We’re discussing that. We only have a problem with the ‘Visita Iglesia’ because it’s the people moving around, but we can find a way that they would not need to enter or linger at the church before moving on to the next church,” Pabillo said in Filipino.
He said the Catholic faithful can also observe “Visita Iglesia” online as he emphasized they have already started doing it even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Catholic church is set to observe Holy Week starting Feb. 17, Ash Wednesday.

For Ash Wednesday, Pabillo said they also have safety measures in place inside every Catholic church to ensure that the faithful are protected against COVID-19.

He said that they will sprinkle the ashes instead of the traditional daubing on the forehead.