Duterte’s spokesman said that the trip to the Vatican has not yet been planned but it is a priority. The mayor of Davao wants to be forgiven for offending the pontiff at a rally.
Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The newly elected president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte wants to go to the Vatican to apologise in person to Pope Francis, for insulting him during the election campaign.
"The mayor repeatedly said he wants to visit the Vatican, win or lose, not only to pay homage to the pope but he really needs to explain to the pope and ask for forgiveness," said Peter Lavina, spokesman for the mayor of Davao who will begin his six-year presidency on 30 June.
In a speech to announce his presidential run, Duterte lashed out at Pope Francis for causing traffic jams in Manila during his visit to the Philippines in January 2015.
"It took us five hours to get from the hotel to the airport. I asked who was coming. They said it was the pope. I wanted to call him: 'Pope, son of a . . ., go home. Don't visit anymore'," Duterte said.
Duterte later apologised to the Holy Father in a letter and received a response from the Vatican offering "the assurance of prayers".
Lavina has said repeatedly in recent days that Duterte plans to adopt a more moderate and presidential tone when he assumes office, and that his gutter language and insults were part of a performance to attract voters' attention.
Raised Catholic, Duterte said he had left the Church after becoming mayor. “If I obey the Ten Commandments or listen to priests, I would not be able to do anything as a mayor,” he said in January.