The move is in response to concerns from the Vatican over the potential cost of the visit in a country where millions of its citizens live below the poverty line.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has said that Pope Francis himself requested that his visit be "pastoral and simple".

"It's important that we follow the request of the Vatican not to make the visit expensive," said Father Anton Pascual, chairman of the media relations committee for the papal visit.

The pope wants people to donate to victims of recent calamities rather than spend money on his visit, the priest said. Continue reading