LOVE LETTER. Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles shows to the members of the press the letter of Pope Francis to Presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. (Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY—Pope Francis acknowledged a letter sent by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in a response written by Italian Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu and sent to Davao Archbishop Romulo Geolina Valles, D.D.
In a press conference on Monday, April 4 Valles read: “His Holiness Pope Francis has received your letter of 21 January 2016, and he has asked me to respond on his behalf. He appreciates the sentiments which you expressed.”
The Pope’s 2-paragraph letter was “full of verse and blessings,” describes Valles.
“The Holy Father offers the assurance of his prayers for you, as he invokes upon you the divine blessing of wisdom and peace,” last paragraph of the letter reads.
In December last year, Duterte met with Valles, Auxiliary Bishop George Rimando and Monsignor Paul Cuison who lectured him on Christian values after Duterte uttered expletives towards the Pope on the issue of traffic jam during his proclamation as a presidential candidate.
Duterte reportedly wrote a letter to the Pope, the contents of which were not disclosed to the media.
“Sa kabusy sa Santo Papa, nakita siguro niya nga usa ka sulat angay tubagon(As we all now, the Holy Father is very busy but maybe he saw how important that letter is),” Valles said.
Pope’s letter was sent last February 24 and delivered last March 12.
Valles also confirmed that he will vote on this upcoming election and gave some reminders to the voters.
“Una, kita mga voters ubanan nato sa pag-ampo, dili ako lang ang maka benepisyo, nga atong botohan isa ka tao na makaalagad, makadala og kaayohan sa nasud, the common good, common welfare, common development mao kinahanglan og pag-ampo (First, we should pray for the elections, that it will not only serve the few, that the chosen candidates will serve the people, the common good, common welfare, common development, that is why we need prayers),” said Valles.
Valles added that all candidates should be able to articulate well and present their programs for the country. He also said that he hopes there will be no violence during the elections. (davaotoday.com)
