President Rodrigo Duterte will hold a one-on-one dialogue with leaders of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines to mend ties with the Catholic Church following his rant against God, Malacañang said Saturday.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque met Friday night with the Papal Nuncio “©Gabriel Giordano Caccia where they agreed that both State and Church should work together for the benefit of the people.
“It was agreed the President will have a one-on-one dialogue with the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.”©”©The Papal Nuncio also welcomes further meetings with the President,” Roque said in a statement.
The Palace official, however, did not give any exact date of the meeting between Duterte and CBCP president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles following Duterte’s rants against God and the Church.
Valles was quoted by Radio Veritas as saying on Tuesday that listening to one another was always good.
“That is most welcome development. To dialogue, to listen to one another, is always good,” Valles said.
Duterte’s recent comments calling God stupid and questioning the creation story in the Bible has earned criticism from many sectors.
“We had a ‘no holds barred’ meeting with the Papal Nuncio at the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila. Had an hour with him but we agreed to keep it private,” Roque said.
The Palace spokesman admitted that it would be good for both Duterte and Valles to meet as they have a common ground as both of them hailed from Davao City.
“I don’t think the Church will ever stand in judgment on the sincerity of anyone. At least I believe as much in the Church. So if it’s a President to President meeting, good because they are both from Davao,” he said.
Roque said the Papal Nuncio last Wednesday invited the President to the celebration of Pope’s Day. However, Duterte sent his four-man committee instead and went to his engagements in Leyte.