MANILA — A Catholic priest said that the vestments to be worn by Pope Francis in the three Masses he will be officiating in Leyte and Manila are made in the Philippines.
Fr. Carmelo Arada, Service Committee on Liturgy for the 2015 Papal Visit said that the Vatican approved the design and the material for the garments, including the chasuble and mitre.
“Pinayagan tayo ng (We were given permission by) Rome on the making of vestments meaning Chasuble, mitre. They will be done here in the Philippines. Makikita doon ‘yung Sampaguita, Anahaw, Sto. Nino…ito ‘yung mga elements na nandoon (You will see sampaguita, anahaw, Sto. Nino… These are the elements on the vestments). They were all approved by the Vatican,” he said.
The vestments are colored white with shades of green and will be made by poor communities from Guiguinto, Bulacan.
“Regular sila gumagawa ng vestments. ‘Yung mga isusuot ng pari mga nanay naman ang gumawa, talleres de nazareth. Tapos ‘yung sa pope disenyo sagrado ang gumawa (They regularly make vestments. The mothers make what the priests usually wear, talleres de nazareth. For the Pope, disenyo sagrado made it),” he said.
The priest said that usually the Holy Father brings his own vestment but for his trip in the country, the Vatican allowed for the host to make the garments.
“During our meeting with the liturgy team of the Holy Father they allowed us to make the vestments here. The pope will be wearing different vestments for Luneta, Tacloban, Manila Cathedral,” he said.
Asked on how much the makers will be charging, Arada said, “Hindi pa napaguusapan kung pababayaran pero meron nagoffer na magsponsor at a minimal cost.”
He said that they do not know if the pontiff will bring the garments to Rome or leave it here to be placed in museum or parishes.
The first Mass of Pope Francis will be in Tacloban on Jan. 17, while the Masses in Manila are scheduled on Jan. 16 at Manila Cathedral, and Jan. 18 at the Quirino Grandstand.