Despite the fact that Pope Francis will be unable to attend the reopening of the historic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, scheduled for December 5, Roman Catholic Archbishop Fr Joseph Harris says plans are on stream to have the Pope visit T&T at a later date.
Contacted yesterday, Harris said an invitation was sent from Archbishop’s House, Maraval Road, St Clair, Port-of-Spain, to the Vatican.
Denuncio Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, would instead represent the Pope as the chief celebrant. Harris is also expected to deliver remarks.
He said it was because of Pope Francis’ busy schedule it was difficult for him to visit one country.
“The Pope has a very packed schedule and we have not been able to pin down a date for him to come yet. The Pope has a whole schedule which is very packed and his coming here... we have to fit it into another journey.
“For instance if he is going to Argentina he will make stops on the way or on the way back. He won’t come just to T&T... it has to be fitted into his other visits but it’s in the works.
“We are negotiating... whether or not negotiating would be successful I do not know,” Harris said.
Among the dignitaries expected to attend the reopening are Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his wife, Sharon, and President Anthony Carmona.
The 164-year-old cathedral, which is situated at the eastern end of the Brian Lara Promenade, was closed for three-and-a-half years for work to be conducted on crumbling walls, water damage, a termite infestation and a crypt that was constantly flooding.
The extensive restorative works cost some $65 million but a further $2 million was needed to complete certain interior works.
Government has to protect citizens
On concerns that the terror group ISIS is a real threat to the Caribbean and that T&T citizens have been fighting for the group, Harris said it was up to the those in authority to seek the safety and security of citizens.
“The Government has its role to do and it will have the information and know how serious the threat is but there will probably be no ISIS if in Trinidad we were doing the things we should be doing.
“We have problems that we have to look after and I don’t know that we are looking after them adequately,” Harris said.
Expressing concerns about the recent spate of killing in the country, including that of children, Harris said young people seemed most at risk.
“We are killing our young people off at a tremendous rate. Everyday you open the papers and you see somebody dying. When you open the papers you are seeing people being suspended for corruption... all kinds of things. What are we doing to ourselves?” Harris asked.
Describing this as the bigger problem he urged that if this could be corrected then the temptation of locals wanting to join ISIS may be removed.
“We are really not looking after ourselves as we should. We have to correct the things that are needed to be corrected,” Harris added.
Pope’s schedule busy
Theron Boodan, the Information Officer for the Office of the President, said enquires were made whether it was feasible to have Pope Francis visit T&T but feedback was that was impossible due to his hectic schedule.
“Enquiries were made by the President’s Office and we understand that the Pope’s itinerary was already fully... so that is a no, no. But in 2016 there may be a potential opening.
“We were also made aware that as a matter of protocol the Pope would not visit a country during an election year and T&T was going through such a period,” Boodan added.
He said when someone like the Pope was invited it entailed a lot of planning and putting in place security measures.
“The then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at that time was consulted and she was a bit excited over the matter. No, if we are going to invite the Pope in the future the new Prime Minister must be consulted because this is going to cost the State a lot of money,” Boodan added.