Three bishops hope to meet Pope Francis this week

September 12, 2017

As fighting in Marawi City continues which extended imposition of martial law in Mindanao, several Catholic bishops are hoping to meet Pope Francis in a private dialogue in Rome this week.

In a radio interview Tuesday, Marawi Bishop Edwin Dela Peña said they are hoping the Pontiff can meet them from September 14 to 16.

"We may have an opportunity to have a private audience with the Holy Father so we can relay to him the situation of our people in Marawi, including the situation of the prelature," said dela Peña over Church-run Radio Veritas.

Joining dela Peña are Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, and Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma.

The prelate said they are hopeful that the Pontiff can meeting them on Sept 16 in the afternoon.

"Hopefully, on the 16th in the afternoon. They are trying to make arrangements,” said dela Peña.

He said meeting Pope Francis to uplift their spirits as well as the faithful.

"It is very important for us to hear the message of the Holy Father so that we can be given the strength to go on, and also the hope to strive to rebuild our Church, because it is really down right now," said dela Peña.

The Mindanao prelates are headed to Rome to attend an inter-faith dialogue organized by the lay organization, “Community SantEgidio".

The bishops will meet the Filipino community, which number about 108,000, most of which are based in Rome.  DMS