Pope Francis receives Mindanao-inspired vestments from Cebu priest

Pope Francis has received a Mindanaoinspired set of vestments from the family of Monsignor Jan Limchua, a priest from Cebu.

According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Limchua presented the gift to the pontiff as a token of gratitude for celebrating mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.

“It’s very beatiful,” Limchua quoted the pope as saying.

Limchua, who serves as secretary of the apostolic nunciature in Cairo, concelebrated the mass with Pope Francis.

He told the pontiff that it was a gift from his family on the occasion of his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary.

“I told the pope that it came from Mindanao. He was impressed and appreciated it,” Limchua said.

Aside from the vestment and mitre, Limchua also gave Pope Francis a portrait of the pontiff painted by a Cebu-based artist.

Made by liturgical designer Leni Fuentes Bernardo who owns a shop in Davao City, the vestment was incorporated with strips of authentic Maranao fabrics.

Bernardo’s shop, called “Linea Sacra by Colors Crew,” has been highlighting the Mindanao tradition of weaving colorful and intricate tapestries in its products.

She said it took them two weeks to come up with the final design of the vestment for the pope.

“All were embroidered, including the gold piping on the side, and we combined it with strips of authentic Maranao cloth,” Bernardo said.

Last February, a Davaoeña also asked Bernardo to design a vestment that was given to Pope Francis during an audience at the Vatican.