VP Binay to meet Pope; flies to Rome from Saudi
By OVP Media
June 19, 2012
MANILA – Vice President Jejomar C. Binay will fly to Rome to meet
with Pope Benedict XVI after he conveys the country’s condolences to
King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud on the passing of Crown Prince
Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Prior to the death of the Crown Prince, I was originally scheduled to
leave for Italy a few days from today, to meet with our OFWs there.
Because of this change in timetable, I will now be proceeding to Rome
from Saudi Arabia after a short stop in Dubai,” the Vice President
said in a statement before his departure.
Binay said he considers the private audience with the Pope “a great
privilege” knowing how busy the Pontiff is.
“I look forward to it with great joy and expectation, coming as it
does on a date so close to the scheduled canonization of a new
Filipino saint, Pedro Calungsod, in October, and my own 40th
wedding anniversary on July 4,” he said.
“I hope to convey to the Holy Father all the good wishes of our
people, most of whom are members of the Church, and for whom he has
shown so much love and affection,” he added.
The Vice President further said that the Pope also had just announced
that the next Eucharistic Congress, one of the biggest events of the
Catholic Church every three years, would be held in Cebu in 2015.
Binay flew to Saudi as President Benigno Aquino’s representative.
The Crown Prince died of an unspecified lingering illness on June 16
at a hospital in Switzerland. He was 78 years old.
Binay said the Crown Prince was “a good friend of the Philippines and
the Filipino people” who helped keep the people of Saudi Arabia,
including the one million or so Overseas Filipino Workers, out of
harm’s way through his anti-terrorism campaigns.
“For this alone, the Prince deserves the gratitude and prayers of our
people,” he said.
While in Jeddah, the Vice President will also meet with the Filipino
community in Saudi Arabia. He did the same during his last visit to
the Arab state.
“Last year, I had a most memorable and productive meeting with
thousands of Filipino workers who were stranded and awaiting
repatriation at the Hajj Terminal. Through the help of His Majesty,
the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, we were able to facilitate
their return to the Philippines shortly after my visit,” he said.
Binay is the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)
concerns.