The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines issued a warning this week against persons and groups using the name of Pope Francis for dubious reasons.
The bishops’ conference said it received a letter from the Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines warning against a certain individual claiming to be close to the Holy Father.
The letter from Monsignor Julien Kaboré, chargé d’affaires of the nunciature in the Philippines, requested the Philippine bishops to warn against a certain Cristian Eduardo Tietze who claims to be president of Peace for Life Foundation.
“He is claiming to be close to the Holy Father and to the Holy See,” said Father Marvin Mejia, secretary general of the bishops’ conference, in a circular dated May 22.
“The Secretariat of State, having learned about this questionable person, encourages all concerned to use maximum prudence in dealing with persons and groups when mention is made of the name of the pope and other curia officials,” read the circular.
Several Philippine church leaders have warned the public in the past against a scheme that uses the name of bishops to solicit money from people and church institutions.
