Tag Archives: The Vatican

Business, International, Religion, The Media, Travel

POPE FRANCIS’ PHILIPPINES VISIT : VATICAN DEMANDS THAT PEPSI TAKE DOWN ADVERTISING OR PAY UP

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imageTHE VATICAN, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Big corporations, small businesses and politicians usually pay big bucks to feature celebrities in their advertising campaigns, or to have famous people endorse their products or services.

The visit to the Philippines next week is no exception to the mad rush among companies to promote their products. In the last month or so, billboards, tarpaulin signs and posters have sprung all over Manila’s crowded streets, lining the paths that will be traversed by the Pope’s motorcade.

But there is one tarp sign that The Vatican is not happy about. It is a sign welcoming the Pope featuring Francis’ image alongside the commercial logo of Pepsi Cola. In addition, the sign also bears the name of a local public official, the chairman of a local Barangay (political district).

The Adobo Chronicles has learned that The Vatican has sent a letter to the Manila headquarters of Pepsi to pay One Million Pesos for every single one of these tarp signs. The money, according to a Vatican official, will be donated by Pope Francis to the victims of last year’s typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). The Pontiff is scheduled to visit Tacloban to spend time with the victims and their families.

In addition, citing the separation of church and state, asked Pepsi to remove the name of the local official from thhe advertising.

“If Pepsi refuses to pay up, we demand that all the signs be taken down immediately,” The Vatican said.

Religion

THOUSANDS OF CATHOLICS FLOCK TO CHURCHES WITH THEIR PETS AFTER PRONOUNCEMENT FROM POPE FRANCIS

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pope-francis-child-1Sao Paulo, Brazil (The Adobo Chronicles) – In Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines and other Catholic countries around the world, scenarios akin to the biblical Noah’s Ark were seen in many churches today, thanks to a pronouncement by Pope Francis during his regular weekly address at St. Peter’s Square in The Vatican.

The pope said that all animals go to heaven, as he tried to comfort a little boy who was upset about the death of his pet dog.

The Catholic Church and other religious groups have always maintained that animals, unlike human beings, have no souls and as such do not have “life after death.”

Upon hearing of the pope’s announcement, Catholics around the world flocked to their churches, tagging along their pet animals — from dogs and cats, to birds and snakes.  They were one in fervent prayer that they and their furry, feathery and slimy friends will be reunited with them in heaven when they leave this mortal world.

It wasn’t even a Sunday, the traditional day of the week when Catholics attend mass and services at their churches.  Church and parish officials are reportedly bracing for overcrowding and chaos as Catholics — and their pets — attend services this coming Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent.  It will be a scenario repeated over and over in many countries in Latin America, Europe and Asia.

With close to 127 million Catholics, Brazil has more Catholics than any other country, and 11.7 percent of the world’s Catholic population. Brazil is followed by Mexico (96 million), Philippines (76 million), United States (75 million), Italy (49 million), Colombia (38 million), France (38 million), Poland (35 million), Spain (35 million) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (31 million).

Music, Religion, Travel

POPE FRANCIS CHOOSES CHARICE TO SING DURING HIS PUBLIC APPEARANCES IN THE PHILIPPINES

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Charice
Charice

The Vatican, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Unknown to many, Pope Francis has a very peculiar taste when it comes to music, and he has no problem making his preferences known even if it is frowned upon by The Vatican’s conservative Curia.

Just this week, Pope Francis selected punk singer Patti Smith to play at this year’s Vatican Christmas Concert in Rome next month. Smith’s booking has evoked a mixed response from Christian groups, with the Catholic organisation Portosalvo apparently describing the decision as “blasphemous”, following the singer’s 1975 song ‘Gloria’, which famously featured the lines: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine.”

Today, the Pope announced that he has chosen Filipino singer Charice to sing ‘The Prayer’ at all his scheduled public appearances in Manila and Tacloban.  The pontiff is scheduled to visit the Philippines  January 15-19 next year.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines  (CBCP) is not happy about the Pope’s choice. Charice has come out recently as a lesbian and the Filipino bishops would rather have someone else sing for the Pope  – heterosexual singers like Lea Salonga or born-again Christian Kuh Ledesma.

The Vatican, however, said that the Pope is just being consistent with his earlier pronouncement that  gay men and women are also God’s children and that he is not in a position to judge them. “The Pope’s selection of Charice reflects that pronouncement, ” The Vatican said.