Papal Nuncio to visit Dumaguete

Cebu, Philippines — The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, will be in the Diocese of Dumaguete next week for a two-day pastoral visit.

Bishop Jolito Cortes said the visit of the Vatican official was made possible upon the invitation of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres (SPC). Cortes said the SPC congregation invited the Nuncio to grace the 115th Founding Anniversary of St. Paul's University Dumaguete on October 29.

But the Nuncio wanted it to be a pastoral visit starting on Monday, October 28, instead of just attending the school anniversary on the 29th.

"The intention of the Nuncio was to tell them (SPC) that he didn't just want to attend the founding anniversary but to have it as a pastoral visit" said Cortes in a press conference.

 It will be the first time that Caccia will visit the Diocese of Dumaguete.

 "We decided to make it a full-blown pastoral visit of the Nuncio. After all, he is the representative of the Holy Father, Pope Francis in the country," Cortes told reporters.

Coincidentally, the Diocese of Dumaguete has recently finished several projects that the Nuncio is set to inaugurate. Highlights of Caccia's visit will include the blessing of Muso Eclesiastico de Tanjay of St. James the Greater Parish, the first Diocesan museum, located in Tanjay City. It will house at least 300 religious artifacts accumulated over the years since its institution on June 11, 1580. The parish is also the first and oldest in the entire Negros Island.

Caccia will also drop by the Mater Ecclesiae Building that will house the Propaedeutic or Pre-college program of St. Joseph Seminary College. The Nuncio is also set to visit St. Augustine of Hippo Parish, a heritage church in the diocese, for their century-old Spanish Pipe Organ and newly restored sacristy.

Caccia will celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral Parish which will be concelebrated by Bishop Cortes.

Security will be tight during the visit, said Fr. Bernie Lingcong, head for the Nuncio's security visit. Frisking will be done at the entrance of the cathedral. Screens will be placed outside the cathedral for those who can't get in.

A portion of the national highway, fronting the cathedral will also be closed to the motorist. The Nuncio's pastoral visit, as the ambassador of the Holy See, is considered as the visit of Pope Francis himself, said Cortes. —FPL