Philippine News
PH to give excess papal visit budget to pope
MANILA –To help finance the Vatican’s charitable projects, the Philippines will turnover the excess money collected for the papal visit to Pope Francis.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas yesterday told the media about the decision to giveaway left-over funds to add to Vatican’s budget for the Pope’s charitable works.
The archbishop added that the move was discussed and made by the bishops without any order from the Pope.
He however, added that there is no definite figure yet as to the total collection left from the funds used during the Pope’s visit from Jan. 15 to 19.
“We are still paying our bills,” he said during a press conference at the end of the CBCP’s 100th plenary assembly.
The archbishop also added that the LED screens and sound system consumed much of their budget.
This was because the screens and sound systems were installed in different venues during the Pope’s 5-day visit.