DAVAO (SE): Archbishop Socrates Villegas said that the gun-slinging mayor of Davao City and currently presidential candidate, Rodrigo Duterte, went one expletive too far when he cursed the figure of Pope Francis during a November 30 rant over traffic congestion during the pope’s visit to The Philippines in January this year.

MANILA (UCAN): Priests in The Philippines have been asked to stop installing new statues or images made out of ivory as objects of veneration in their churches.

The bishops’ conference issued a directive on November 4 prohibiting priests from blessing any new statue, image or object of devotion that is made of or crafted from ivory, or incorporates any material from endangered or protected wildlife in its manufacture.

MANILA (SE): The president of the bishops’ conference of the host nation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held in Manila from November 18 to 19, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, called on global leaders to concentrate on formulating policies that can empower the poor and the marginalised.

Archbishop Villegas said that in the face of rising income gaps in most parts of Asia, APEC should roll out inclusive reforms that would improve the living conditions of the poor.