Bishop wants walk-in attendees at papal Mass

Lifted from http://www.cbcpnews.com/papalvisit/?p=1331

PALO, Leyte, Jan. 6, 2015 -– Further opening the doors to everyone enthusiastic to see the Holy Father, Palo Archbishop John Forrosuelo Du instructed the security committee to allow walk-in attendees to the papal Mass on Jan. 17 at the DZR Airport, particularly in the open space areas.

“If you do not see anything questionable on these persons and they are not bringing anything prohibited, let them in…They are all welcomed by the Holy Father (and) the Church embraces everyone,” he said, specifically requesting Police Eastern Visayas Regional Director Asher Dolina to take care of all the pilgrims.

The bishop, in a press briefing held in the uphill Bishop’s Residence in Palo, expressed his opinion about the people’s reluctance to register for the papal Mass, saying: “Our people are not used to this registration,” optimistic though that surely many will come.

‘Anybody can enter’

The prelate clarified, “We are also concerned of the security, but as the pastor…we are so concerned on the pastoral aspect of his coming [so] we have to meet at certain point not to be too strict when it comes to security.”

“The Holy Father wants to be close to the people, but the ordinary people are not used to this registration,” he pointed out, explaining in analogy, “In entering the church there is no registration. Anybody can enter.”

Fr. Chris Arthur Militante, information officer of the Archdiocese of Palo, clarified that people should not be hindered from attending the papal Mass only because they do not have IDs issued by the committee. The ID, he said, is only meant to control the number of people who will be accommodated in the airport apron and for the color coding scheme utilized in the area.

Should there still be ample space, the walk-in attendees will have the chance to enter said the area and get a better view of the papal Mass.

He disclosed that from the original four persons per square meter, the area is extended to provide breathing space for the attendees within the apron — a slight change from the original set-up. Thus, the area for those with IDs or tickets for the papal Mass extends beyond the airport to include the paved portion adjacent to it.

The steering committee on the Papal Visit in the Archdiocese of Palo is continually receiving registration forms from the different parishes within the Archdiocese of Palo and its suffragan dioceses.

It is expecting thousands to come from different parts of the country, especially from Visayas and Mindanao, thus holding and vigil places have been designated for them. As of now there are about fifty holding areas, mostly public schools in Tacloban and Palo as holding and vigil areas for the pilgrims from distant places.

No VIPs

PNP Deputy Regional Director for administration C/Supt. Cedrick Train stressed that the security committee is not imposing barriers between the people and the Pope. “We only want to preserved the security of His Holiness and the people as well,” he said.

He said, although there will be road blockades, the delegates can still be ferried along restricted roads but assisted by the police or the military. Car passes will also be provided to the selected participants in the papal visit, like the media.

Cedrick said using tents along the street sides will definitely not be allowed as this pose security hazards.

According to him, managing this will be added work load for the policemen in-charge of the security and orderliness in the area.

Cedrick, however, disclosed that as of now, the committee does not see any potential threat on the life of the Pope or any attempts to disrupt the activities on Jan. 17.

Du, who will be riding the pope mobile alongside the Pope, said the Holy Father will surely come in spite of rumored rainfall on the said day.

He added that everything is set and politicians will have their space in the crowd, among the well-wishers of the Pope, not as VIPs but as ordinary faithful.

He said he even invited all local government officials to join in welcoming the Pope and in the the Papal Mass. He, however, invited a number of them to the lunch at the Bishop’s Palace being collaborators and supporters of the different endeavors of the Archdiocese of Palo. (Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros/CBCPNews)