Presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had sent an apology letter to Pope Francis, the leader of 1.2 billion Catholics. The letter was sent months after Duterte cursed at Pope Francis during a speech before members of the PDP Laban in November 30,2015. In his speech, Duterte said that he got stuck in traffic during the Pope’s visit in Manila in January last year.
Duterte’s letter was apparently warmly received by Pope Francis. According to Italian Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, the substitute or top official for Church internal affairs at the Vatican, he was writing to Duterte in behalf of Pope Francis.
The letter reads: “His Holiness Pope Francis has received your letter on January 21, 2016… He appreciates the sentiments you have expressed. The Holy Father offers the assurance of prayers for you, as he invokes upon you the divine blessings of wisdom and peace.”
The letter was read out by Davao City Archbishop Romulo Valles on April 4 from Davao City. According to him, it was him who sealed Duterte’s letter and arranged for it to be sent to the Vatican.
Photo of Davao City Archbishop Romulo Valles
Duterte apologizes to parish priest of areas he visited. Last January, he said he was planning to visit Pope Francis to personally apologize to him.
Source: GMA News
