pope benedict visit philippines

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Benedict’s legacy to PH: ‘Paternal care’ from afar

MANILA, Philippines—Benedict XVI served the Church for eight years, but while he made 24 pastoral visits outside Italy in his entire pontificate, he was never able to reach the Philippines, which had been visited by Pope Paul VI in 1970, Pope John Paul II in 1981 and 1995 and Pope Francis following the devastation left by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

However, this was never a hindrance for him, who in 2013 became the second pope to resign in 600 years, to make his presence felt in the Philippines, where over 80 percent of the population—85 million people—are Catholics.

Looking back, one of the most valued moments that he gave the Philippines was the canonization of Pedro Calungsod in 2012—12 years since the second Filipino martyr was declared blessed by John Paul II, who is now himself a saint.

According to Benedict himself on Oct. 21, 2012, Calungsod, the second Filipino to become saint, had a love for Christ that inspired him to train as a catechist with Jesuit missionaries in the Philippines.

GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan

While life became hard in Marianas Islands, where Calungsod went to evangelize the Chamorro people, Benedict said the young catechist “displayed deep faith and charity and continued to catechize […] giving witness to Christ by a life of purity and dedication to the Gospel.”

“May the example and courageous witness of Calungsod inspire the dear people of the Philippines to announce the Kingdom bravely and to win souls for God,” said Benedict, who was already 85 years old then.

RELATED STORY: Pope Francis hails ‘beloved’ Benedict as Vatican releases photos of body

His love for the Filipino youth was prominent in the 23rd World Youth Day celebration that was held in Sydney, Australia in 2008, where the Vatican released a Filipino translation of his message to millions of young people all over the world.

Benedict XVI had said: “Never forget that the Church, in fact humanity itself, all the people around you now and those who await you in the future, expect much from you young people, because you have within you the supreme gift of the Father, the Spirit of Jesus.”

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) fight against the Reproductive Health Act of 2012 also received outright commendation from Benedict, who had always been described as “conservative.”

“I commend the Church in the Philippines for seeking to play its part in support of human life from conception until natural death, and in defense of the integrity of marriage and the family,” he told Filipino bishops at the Vatican in 2010.

Filipinos grieving

Benedict’s legacy to the Philippines was so remarkable that on the day that his death at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery was made public, Filipinos immediately went into mourning despite the fact that it was New Year’s Eve.

READ: Former Pope Benedict dies aged 95

Take the case of Cardinal Jose Advincula, who offered prayers for the pope emeritus at Manila Cathedral ahead of celebrating Mass for Mama Mary.

The Christ the King Chapel has been open since for Catholics who may want to say prayers, light candles and write in the Book of Condolences for Benedict, who died on Dec. 31 at 9:34 a.m. in Vatican City.

“Let us honor the memory of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI by learning from his preaching and following his example of Christian life. Let us pray for him that God may welcome him into his Kingdom,” Advincula said.

RELATED STORY: Pope leads New Year’s services with homage to ‘beloved’ Benedict

Likewise, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David and the CBCP stressed that the pope emeritus “will be especially remembered as a great theologian, catechist, and musician,” saying that he spent his last years in solitude and contemplation, sincerely praying for the Church.

READ: Bongbong Marcos, bishops mourn death of Pope Benedict XVI

“I wish to thank all of you who accompanied him in prayer and offered special Mass intentions for his peaceful passage into eternal life,” said David, president of the CBCP, on Dec. 31, as he described Benedict as the “Pope of Charity.”

Legacy to PH

As narrated by Advincula, “we gratefully remember him for appointing my predecessor, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, as our archbishop [and] he also elevated Tagle and Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales to the College of Cardinals.”

“They were both excellent pastors who served well in our local Church. These pastoral appointments were signs of his paternal solicitude for us. On a personal note, I remember his appointment of me as Archbishop of Capiz in 2011.”

RELATED STORY: ‘A noble person, so kind,’ Pope Francis pays tribute to Benedict XVI

According to INQUIRER.net archives and data from the CBCP, Benedict, in his eight-year pontificate—April 19, 2005 to Feb. 28, 2013—designated eight archbishops and 22 bishops in the Philippines.

It was on Feb. 23, 2006 when Rosales, who was installed as the 31st archbishop of Manila on Nov. 21, 2003, was appointed by Benedict as a cardinal, the sixth Filipino to be elevated to the position.

Then on Oct. 13, 2011, Benedict appointed Tagle as archbishop of Manila. It was also him who elevated Tagle to the College of Cardinals, which gave Tagle the privilege to vote for a new pope in case the current one dies or resigns.

Benedict’s first bishop appointee in the Philippines was Jose Rojas, who was designated as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Caceres on July 25, 2005. He was later named bishop of the Diocese of Libmanan.

CBCP said Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro, was the first Filipino archbishop to be appointed by Benedict. His last appointee was David William Antonio, who was then auxiliary bishop of Nueva Segovia.

It was also him who elevated David, Broderick Pabillo, Gilbert Garcera, Gerardo Alminaza, Joseph Nacua, OFM, Ricardo Baccay, Roberto Mallari, Marlo Peralta, Renato Mayugba, and Jacinto Jose to the episcopate.

PH closely observed

Back in 2010, when Filipino bishops met with Benedict for their Ad Limina visit, the then Pope said “your presence here in Rome strengthens the bonds of communion between the Catholic community in the Philippines and the See of Peter, a communion which stretches back over four centuries to the first offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice upon your shores.”

“As this communion of faith and sacrament has nourished your people for many generations, I pray that it may continue to serve as a leaven in the broader culture, so that current and future generations of Filipinos will continue to encounter the joyful message of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Benedict likewise noted the “special interest [of the Church in the Philippines] in devoting herself more fully to care for the poor.”

“It is heartening to see that this undertaking has borne fruit, with Catholic charitable institutions actively engaged throughout the country. Many of your fellow citizens, however, remain without employment, adequate education or basic services, and so your prophetic statements and your charitable action on behalf of the poor continue to be greatly appreciated.”

“In addition to this effort, you are rightly concerned that there be an on-going commitment to the struggle against corruption, since the growth of a just and sustainable economy will only come about when there is a clear and consistent application of the rule of law throughout the land.”

RELATED STORY: Pope Francis to lead unique funeral for ex-pope Benedict

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ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO THE BISHOPS OF THE PHILIPPINES  ON THEIR "AD LIMINA" VISIT

Consistory Hall Monday, 29 November 2010  

Dear Brother Bishops,

I am pleased to extend to all of you a warm welcome on the occasion of your visit ad limina Apostolorum . I thank Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales for the kind words that he has addressed to me on your behalf, and I assure you of my prayers and good wishes for yourselves and for all the faithful entrusted to your pastoral care. Your presence here in Rome strengthens the bonds of communion between the Catholic community in the Philippines and the See of Peter, a communion which stretches back over four centuries to the first offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice upon your shores. As this communion of faith and sacrament has nourished your people for many generations, I pray that it may continue to serve as a leaven in the broader culture, so that current and future generations of Filipinos will continue to encounter the joyful message of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To be such a leaven, the Church must always seek to find her proper voice, because it is by proclamation that the Gospel brings about its life-changing fruits (cf. Mk 16:15-16). This voice expresses itself in the moral and spiritual witness of the lives of believers. It also expresses itself in the public witness offered by the Bishops, as the Church’s primary teachers, and by all who have a role in teaching the faith to others. Thanks to the Gospel’s clear presentation of the truth about God and man, generations of zealous Filipino clergymen, religious and laity have promoted an ever more just social order. At times, this task of proclamation touches upon issues relevant to the political sphere. This is not surprising, since the political community and the Church, while rightly distinct, are nevertheless both at the service of the integral development of every human being and of society as a whole. For her part, the Church contributes most toward the building of a just and charitable social order when, “by preaching the truths of the Gospel, and bringing to bear on all fields of human endeavour the light of her doctrine and of a Christian witness, she respects and fosters the political freedom and responsibility of citizens” ( Gaudium et Spes , 76).

At the same time, the Church’s prophetic office demands that she be free “to preach the faith, to teach her social doctrine ... and also to pass moral judgments in those matters which regard public order whenever the fundamental human rights of a person or the salvation of souls requires it” ( ibid .). In the light of this prophetic task, I commend the Church in the Philippines for seeking to play its part in support of human life from conception until natural death, and in defence of the integrity of marriage and the family. In these areas you are promoting truths about the human person and about society which arise not only from divine revelation but also from the natural law, an order which is accessible to human reason and thus provides a basis for dialogue and deeper discernment on the part of all people of good will. I also note with appreciation the Church’s work to abolish the death penalty in your country.

A specific area in which the Church must always find her proper voice comes in the field of social communications and the media. The task set before the whole Catholic community is to convey a hope-filled vision of faith and virtue so that Filipinos may find encouragement and guidance on their path to a full life in Christ. A unified and positive voice needs to be presented to the public in forms of media both old and new, so that the Gospel message may have an ever more powerful impact on the people of the nation. It is important that the Catholic laity proficient in social communications take their proper place in proposing the Christian message in a convincing and attractive way. If the Gospel of Christ is to be a leaven in Filipino society, then the entire Catholic community must be attentive to the force of the truth proclaimed with love.

A third aspect of the Church’s mission of proclaiming the life-giving word of God is in her commitment to economic and social concerns, in particular with respect to the poorest and the weakest in society. At the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, the Church in your nation took a special interest in devoting herself more fully to care for the poor. It is heartening to see that this undertaking has borne fruit, with Catholic charitable institutions actively engaged throughout the country. Many of your fellow citizens, however, remain without employment, adequate education or basic services, and so your prophetic statements and your charitable action on behalf of the poor continue to be greatly appreciated. In addition to this effort, you are rightly concerned that there be an on-going commitment to the struggle against corruption, since the growth of a just and sustainable economy will only come about when there is a clear and consistent application of the rule of law throughout the land.

Dear Brother Bishops, as my predecessor Pope John Paul II rightly noted, “You are Pastors of a people in love with Mary ” ( 14 January 1995 ). May her willingness to bear the Word who is Jesus Christ into the world be for you a continuing inspiration in your apostolic ministry. To all of you, and to the priests, religious and lay faithful of your dioceses, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and joy.

© Copyright 2010 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

9 Surprising Facts About Papal Visits To The Philippines

In this predominantly Roman Catholic country, expect the majority of Filipinos to go wild at the impending arrival and presence of the spiritual leader of the 1.2 billion Catholics, the amazingly affable and austere Pope Francis.

Also Read:  9 Astonishing Miracles in Philippine History

As we all know, this would be the fourth papal visit to the Philippines: Pope Paul VI visited in 1970, and Pope John Paul II did it twice in 1981 and 1995. And as always, here are some interesting facts about the prior papal visits to the Philippines.

1. Before He Became Pope, John Paul II Had Already Visited The Philippines.

Aside from his famous 1981 and 1995 visits to the Philippines, Pope John Paul II already came to the country in 1973 when he was still the relatively-unknown Karol Jozef Cardinal Wojtyla, the Archbishop of Krakow.

Arriving in the country for a stopover, the future pope hardly attracted attention when he celebrated Mass in Baclaran Church in Parañaque. Yet to those who were privy to the Vatican’s internal affairs, they already had a gut feeling that Wojtyla would someday be pope (they were correct).

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Christer Nyblom, a Swedish journalist attached to Wojtyla’s entourage at the time, also noted how the pope-to-be loved to indulge on Philippine mangoes and San Miguel Pale Pilsen during his first brief stay here in the Philippines.

2. A Bolivian Painter Tried To Kill Pope Paul VI.

Disguising himself as a priest, Benjamin Mendoza, an eccentric Bolivian painter, managed to reach the pope as he was being welcomed in the airport and stab him twice in the chest with a 13-inch knife before being finally subdued and carried off by security forces. During his arraignment and trial, he rambled on and off about only inflicting a “symbolic death” on the pope and that he never meant to actually kill him. He eventually spent four years inside a local prison before he was deported back to his homeland.

Meanwhile, President Marcos was said to have credited himself with saving the pope’s life by giving a “karate chop” to Mendoza’s knife-wielding arm. However, his life-saving role was never confirmed by the pope’s entourage.

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Pope Paul VI himself never spoke about the attack in his lifetime and instead forgave Mendoza. He also denied he had been physically injured although, after his death, the Vatican revealed he had a chest wound which would have killed him had it not been for the undershirt he was wearing during the attack. In his silence, Pope Paul VI ironically saved Mendoza from being executed.

3. The Plot To Kill Pope John Paul II With A Suicide Bomber.

Although we’ve already discussed the Bojinka Plot which was the precursor to the 9/11 attacks, we’ll go into the further details on how the plotters planned to assassinate Pope John Paul during his 1995 visit.

Read More:  Philippine police discovered clues of 9/11 attacks, 6 years before it happened

Supposedly, the terrorists would employ a suicide bomber disguised as a priest to come near the Popemobile as it made its way to Makati City’s San Carlos Seminary and assassinate the pope. However, killing the pontiff would be a mere diversion for the real goal of the terrorists—to hijack several planes and either detonate or ram them into several US buildings including CIA headquarters and the Pentagon.

Unfortunately for the terrorists, their cover was blown when an accidental fire in the apartment they had been renting attracted the attention of authorities, resulting in the arrest of three of their principal members and the dissolution of the plot.

4. Pope John Paul II Would Have Visited The Philippines A Fourth Time.

If he didn’t have become sickly during his final years, Pope John Paul II would have visited the Philippines for the fourth time (we counted his visit as an archbishop).

The pontiff was supposed to have been in the country for the World Meeting of Families back in 2003 but had to back out due to his frail health.  On the other hand, his successor, the conservative Pope Benedict XVI turned down three invitations to go to the Philippines in 2010.

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5. Two Popemobiles Are 100% Proudly Filipino-made.

When Pope John Paul II came to the Philippines twice, he used Popemobiles (the unofficial name of the vehicles used by popes for outdoor appearances) that were designed and created exclusively by Filipinos.

For the first visit, Sarao Motors created a customized Popemobile designed from a jeepney. As for the second visit, Pope John Paul II rode in a bulletproof pick-up truck designed by Francisco Motors.

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At the time of his second appearance, security measures had already been tightened due to a failed assassination in St. Peter’s Square in 1981. A rumored second attempt (the Bojinka Plot) against the pontiff in the Philippines also spurred the designers to make the vehicle as safe as possible, hence why bulletproof enclosures were placed on the vehicle.

6. Pope John Paul II Criticized President Marcos In Front Of The World.

In a time when criticizing President Ferdinand Marcos would have meant certain death, Pope John Paul II did it anyway, and in front of the iron-fisted ruler himself.

Although Marcos had already lifted martial law prior to the papal visit, he still practically retained his dictatorial powers. During a press conference in Malacañang Palace and with the president sitting beside him, the pope minced no words as he candidly spoke about how there could never be a justification for violating someone’s human rights or trampling on his dignity.

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His frankness caused Marcos to abandon his carefully-prepared speech and apologize to the pope for what he described as “petty and small” conflicts between the church and the state. After talking down Marcos, the pope flew to Negros and essentially repeated his speech due to what he perceived as the inhumane conditions tens of thousands of “sacadas” (sugarcane workers) were experiencing at the expense of the few hacienderos who controlled the province.

7. It wasn’t just President Marcos whom Pope John Paul II criticized.

His wife, Imelda—who had by then gained a reputation as a free-spending First Lady—also incurred papal criticism when she commissioned the building of the Coconut Palace (yes, the very same Coconut Palace which now serves as the official residence of the Vice President).

READ:  9 Surprising Things You Didn’t Know About Imelda Marcos

At the time of its construction, the Palace cost the country P37 million pesos —a humongous amount given the sorry state the country was in at the time. The pope must have agreed too because he refused to stay inside the Palace he described as ostentatious and instead resided elsewhere for the duration of his 1981 visit.

8. Pope Paul VI Also Visited After A Typhoon.

Just like Pope Francis, Pope Paul VI’s visit also came after a powerful typhoon named Yoling devastated the Philippines.

Overcoming the protests and reservations of the Marcos government, the pope spent a Sunday afternoon wading through the mud-riddled slums of Tondo and ministering to the residents. He also spent more than an hour staying inside the shack of a family with ten children just to talk to them.

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At the end of his tour, Pope Paul VI was said to have been deeply moved by the poor people’s plight and delivered a stirring speech calling on the government and the local Church to recognize their worth as human beings and uplift their lives. His successor, Pope John Paul II, would also visit Tondo in 1981 where he would invoke his famous “First Beatitude” speech.

9. Two Papal Gifts Are Landmarks In Luneta Park.

Unbeknownst to many, two landmarks in Luneta Park were gifts by the two visiting popes when they visited the country.

The first, a four-decades-old Narra tree, was personally planted by Pope Paul VI in 1970. The second, a statue of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and which can be located in front of Pope Paul VI’s tree, was donated by Pope John Paul in 1981 to commemorate the beatification of the saint. Not only that, but he also planted his own Narra tree.

Also Read:  22 Things We No Longer See in Manila

Unfortunately, park attendants have had to remove the markers on the papal trees to dissuade devotees from damaging them.

Aguilar, M. (2015). The Popemobile: an 80 year history . AutoIndustriya.com . Retrieved 14 January 2015, from http://goo.gl/Hca3sm

Aning, J. (2012). Vatican City can fit in Rizal Park . Inquirer.net . Retrieved 14 January 2015, from http://goo.gl/YiZqW3

Bangor Daily News,. (1979). Pope Paul VI was wounded in 1970 attack, p. 21. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/FYNkzH

Bombo Radyo Philippines,. (2015). Papal gifts ng 2 Pope: Narra tree, statue sa Luneta . Retrieved 14 January 2015, from http://goo.gl/1iTGsi

Cal, B. (2014). Pope John Paul II: Soft spot for Filipinos . Manila Standard Today . Retrieved 14 January 2015, from http://goo.gl/5n0gR8

Kamm, H. (1981). Pope, with Marcos beside him, delivers human rights talk. The New York Times . Retrieved from http://goo.gl/rPBt35

Laytner, R. (2012). Benjamin Mendoza . Edit International . Retrieved 14 January 2015, from http://goo.gl/p591KE

Murphy, D. (2010). Typhoon ‘Yoling’ and Pope Paul VI . Inquirer.net . Retrieved 14 January 2015, from http://goo.gl/721Rzr

Ocala Star-Banner,. (1981). Man Who Stabbed Pope Paul VI Still Roams The World, p. 9. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/xQuxgE

Pimentel, B. (2015). When an assassin tried to kill a Pope in Manila . Inquirer.net . Retrieved 14 January 2015, from http://goo.gl/MSauHq

Sebastián, R. (2014). John Paul II’s “least known” visit to the Philippines . CBCP News . Retrieved 14 January 2015, from http://goo.gl/wNUjmw

Tuazon, J. (2011). Revered Popemobile to make the rounds of PHL churches . GMA News Online . Retrieved 14 January 2015, from http://goo.gl/TDWm5Q

Written by FilipiKnow

in Facts & Figures , History & Culture , Politics & Religion

Last Updated January 21, 2022 01:36 PM

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Funeral of Benedict XVI: Everything you need to know

The express request on the part of the emeritus pope is that everything be simple with regard to the funeral and the other celebrations

Following the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, these are the details you should know about his funeral in the Vatican.

Benedict XVI passed away on Dec. 31 at 9:34 a.m. Rome time. As confirmed by his personal secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein, his last words were “Signore, ti amo !” (Lord, I love you!) And he pronounced them in Italian.

Unlike the death of St. John Paul II in 2005, the death of the pope emeritus was not announced in St. Peter’s Square nor was there a peal of bells. Confirmation of his death was reported by the director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni.

Bruni told reporters that “following the wishes of the pope emeritus, the funeral will be held under the sign of simplicity,” stressing that it will be a “solemn but sober funeral.”

“The express request on the part of the emeritus pope is that everything be simple, both with regard to the funeral as well as the other celebrations and gestures during this time of pain,” he added.

After his death, the body of Benedict XVI remained in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, his place of residence since his resignation in 2013. The small monastery is located in the Vatican Gardens on a hill behind St. Peter’s Basilica. 

On Jan. 1,  the Holy See released the first images  of the body of the pope emeritus with a rosary in his hand and lying at the foot of the altar in the monastery’s chapel. The chapel is the same place where, in addition to celebrating Mass, public visits from Pope Francis and the new cardinals were made every time there was a consistory in the Vatican. Since it continues to be Christmas liturgically, the chapel still has a small Christmas tree and a manger.

Next to the remains of Benedict XVI, some kneelers were placed for prayer.

A few hours later dozens of people including cardinals, bishops, priests, Vatican workers, nuns from different congregations, and even journalists who cover the activities of the Holy See were able to enter the monastery to keep vigil and pray with the remains of the pope before they were transferred to St. Peter’s.

At 7 a.m. on Jan. 2,   the body of the Pope Emeritus was transferred from the   Mater Ecclesiae Monastery to St. Peter’s Basilica to begin the wake and allow thousands of pilgrims to say their last goodbyes. 

The archpriest of the basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, received the remains of Benedict XVI with a liturgical act that lasted about 30 minutes.

Among the attendees were Gänswein, who was his personal secretary since 2003, and the master of liturgical celebrations, Monsignor Diego Ravelli.

From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the faithful from all over the world  were allowed to enter St. Peter ’ s Basilica to visit the body of Benedict XVI.

It is estimated that at least 65,000 people came to visit the pope emeritus on the first day of his wake. 

The remains of Benedict XVI will remain on display in St. Peter’s Basilica until Wednesday, Jan. 4. Visiting hours for Tuesday and Wednesday are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Rome time).

Funeral of Benedict XVI

Pope Francis will preside over the funeral of Benedict XVI on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 9:30 a.m. (Rome time), in St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican has released the booklet containing the  prayers and readings  for the funeral Mass. The readings for the Mass will be Isaiah 29:16–19 in Spanish; Psalm 23 sung in Latin; 1 Peter 1: 3–9 in English, and the Gospel of Luke 23: 39–46 read in Italian.

Two official state delegations , those of Italy and Germany, will attend the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. 

The president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, was one of the first to visit the funeral chapel of Pope Benedict XVI. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accompanied by other officials from her government, also attended on the morning of Monday, Jan. 2, and prayed for several minutes before the remains of the pope emeritus.

Many other heads of state will come to pay respects and attend the funeral in an unofficial capacity, including the president of Hungary, Katalin Novak; the president of Poland, Andrzej Duda; King Philip of Belgium; and Queen Sofia of Spain, among others. 

As Benedict XVI’s coffin is carried to his place of burial in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, the choir will sing the Magnificat in Latin.

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First-ever papal visit to PH – a saintly heart for the poor

Pope Paul VI was the first pope to visit the Philippines. (Apostolic Nunciature – Manila)

The year 2020 commemorates the golden anniversary of a first in the history of the Church in the Philippines, that is, the first pontifical visit to “one of the most noble and great Catholic nations in the world.”

Fifty years ago, the misunderstood Pope of the Vatican Council II and  Humanae Vitae  (1968), Paul VI, now a canonized Saint, came in November 1970. He came like a silver lining of a dark cloud, giving hope to thousands of victims after Typhoon Yoling devastated the islands, much like Pope Francis’ visit in 2015 was after Typhoon Yolanda.

“I Paul, the successor of Saint Peter, charged with the pastoral mission for the whole Church,” came from Rome to this far-distant land to proclaim Christ to the Filipino nation, the Holy Father proclaimed during the Quezon Circle Mass on November 29, 1970.

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First and foremost, he was concerned with the nourishment of the souls,  cura animarum , which is the fundamental mission of every Vicar of Christ. In addition, he was also seriously concerned with the total development of every Filipino, particularly the less privileged. Why do I say this?

A couple of hours before he flew to Australia, he spent one Sunday afternoon wading through the muddy slums of Tondo. Although not part of the original papal itinerary, Paul VI paid a family visit to Carlos Navarro, his wife and eight children, and prayed with them.

How could we forget the saint, powerful yet prayerful, who entered their 5-feet-long-by-9-feet-wide shanty, located in a dumpsite outside the Don Bosco Training Center in Tondo, Manila, touching them in the head and blessing them?

The Vicar of Christ was not just bringing the good news of salvation but the hope of liberation for the poor, much like the One who sent him: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18).

During the Marcos regime, the  wala-nawala-binalewala  (last-lost-least) sector was becoming the bleeding heart of Philippine society, wounded by the deadly spear of social inequality. The poor became poorer and the rich richer as the guilty ones declared free, while the innocent languished in detention or summarily executed.

Pope Paul VI visiting the poor in Tondo. (Apostolic Nunciature – Manila)

On the streets across the urban centers, more and more Filipinos slept the night with empty stomachs. Countless men and women were ravished by physical hunger, and countless children were undernourished, so that many of them dying in infancy. Many provinces, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao, were condemned to underdevelopment, depression, and despondency.

It’s beyond external gestures. Like those of John XXIII, John Paul II, and Pope Francis, Paul VI’s heart was dedicated to the less privileged. If you slice their hearts into two, you’d find nothing there except God and the welfare of  les miserables  and  los pobres !

The saintly Pontiff renounced the regal splendor of the papacy and then personally embraced the life of poverty. He ditched the triple tiara one year after his coronation in 1963, sold it to a group of American Catholics for $1 million and the money went to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Today, the tiara is housed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

In 1965, after his remarkable speech in New York, Paul VI gave to the United Nations two pieces of personal jewelry, an 8-carat gold pectoral cross and platinum ring with more than 75 carats of diamonds, full of hope that the proceeds from their sale ($1.9 million) at auction would contribute to the UN’s efforts to end human suffering.

Paul VI turned out to be a guiding star in the Catholic firmament, a Pontiff of amazing charity who blazed the trail in order to reach out to the poor, thus showing to the world the beautiful Face of God.

Saint Paul VI, pray for the Filipino nation. Amen!

Jose Mario Bautista Maximiano ( facebook.com/josemario.maximiano ) is the author of MDXXI: 500 YEARS ROMAN CATHOLIC (Claretian, 2020) and THE CHURCH CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH (Claretian, 2017).

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Disclaimer: comments do not represent the views of inquirer.net. we reserve the right to exclude comments which are inconsistent with our editorial standards. full disclaimer.

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Pope Francis hailed the “beloved” Benedict XVI on Sunday in a New Year’s Day service at the Vatican while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended the Philippines’ sympathies to the late pontiff’s loved ones.

“Today we entrust the beloved pope emeritus Benedict XVI to the most holy mother (the Virgin Mary), to accompany him in his passage from this world to God,” Francis said a day after his predecessor died.

On his official Twitter account on Saturday, Mr. Marcos said: “We are in deep sorrow upon learning of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI today. The Philippines is one in offering our prayers for the eternal repose of his soul. We keep his loved ones in our prayers,” he said.

In the Philippines, church-goers lit candles and prayed before a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI at the Church of Christ chapel inside Manila Cathedral on Sunday.

Long lines also formed as Filipinos signed the condolences book for the former pope.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, for its part, said it will “fondly remember” Benedict for being a “Pope of Charity.”

“If Pope Francis is known as the Pope of Mercy and Joy, Pope Benedict will be remembered as the Pope of Charity. He began his episcopacy with a profoundly theological encyclical entitled DEUS CARITAS EST (God is Love),” CBCP President and Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said in a statement.

Benedict, a conservative intellectual who in 2013 became the first pontiff in six centuries to resign, died on Saturday at his home in a monastery inside the grounds of the Vatican.

His body will be moved on Monday morning to St Peter’s Basilica, where for three days the public will be able to pay their respects before a funeral on Thursday overseen by Francis.

The ceremony will be “solemn but simple,” the Vatican has said, after which he will be buried in the papal tombs under St Peter’s Basilica.

The last papal funeral, of John Paul II in 2005, drew a million faithful and heads of state from around the world, although Benedict was a more divisive figure.

A brilliant theologian, he alienated many Catholics with his staunch defense of traditional values and as the pope struggled to impose his authority on the church as it battled a string of crises, including over clerical sex abuse.

US President Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, praised Benedict’s “devotion to the Church,” while Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed him as a “defender of traditional Christian values.”

His death brought to an end an unprecedented situation in which two”men in white”—Benedict and Francis—had co-existed within the walls of the tiny city-state.

Benedict’s health had been declining for a long time, and he had almost entirely withdrawn from public view when the Vatican revealed on Wednesday that his situation had worsened.

At a New Year’s Eve service on Saturday evening, Francis paid tribute to his “dearest” predecessor, saying he was “so noble, so kind.”

After the service on Sunday morning for the World Day of Peace at St Peter’s Basilica, the pontiff will address the faithful in St Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer at 1100 GMT.

Francis, 86, has raised the prospect that he might follow Benedict’s example and step down if he becomes unable to carry out his duties.

In July, suffering knee problems that have forced him to rely on a wheelchair, he admitted he needed to slow down or think about stepping aside.

And earlier in December, the Argentine revealed he had signed a resignation letter when he took office should poor health prevent him from carrying out his duties.

Born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, in Bavaria, Benedict was 78 when he became the first German pope of the modern era.

Flags on the town hall flew at half-mast Saturday in Marktl, where a special mass was organized at the church where he was baptized.

Local Karl Michael Nuck, 55, said his death “was probably a deliverance,” while praising Benedict for resigning and defending his record.

Long close to John Paul II and a senior cardinal in the Catholic hierarchy, Benedict was a leading candidate to become pope in 2005 – but later said his election felt “like the guillotine.”

Unlike his successor Francis, a Jesuit who delights in being among his flock, Benedict was more at home with his books, a cat-lover who delighted in study and playing the piano.

He was dubbed “God’s Rottweiler” in a previous post as chief doctrinal enforcer but struggled to contain numerous scandals in the church during his papacy.

Benedict was the first pope to meet with victims of clerical child sex abuse, but critics said he did not go far enough in addressing the problem and decades of cover-ups.

There were other controversies, from comments that angered the Muslim world to a money-laundering scandal at the Vatican bank and a personal humiliation when, in 2012, his butler leaked secret papers to the media.

After he quit, Benedict remained a flag-bearer for the conservative wing of the church.

With his death, those who battled Francis’ more liberal outlook “lose a living symbol,” noted Italian Vatican observer Marco Politi.

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'Rock star status': Why Filipinos love papal visits

With faith hardwired into our culture, seeing the pope is like coming home.

Social Sharing

A papal visit is the biggest fiesta for a Filipino Catholic. Filipinos look at popes as being part-rock star, part holy man. Any event they preside over — be it a motorcade or a mass — is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of us. 

For me, it's an experience I've lived through four times already in the Philippines; I was nine when Pope Paul VI came to Manila in 1970 and 52 when Pope Francis visited in 2015 and I feel blessed to be a witness to a fifth.

But this papal visit — the fourth since Pope John Paul II visited in  1984 , 1992 and 2002 — carries none of the festive pomp Filipinos are used to. The atmosphere around Pope Francis's visit is being kept somber and subdued in deference to the survivors and the families of victims of Canada's residential schools. 

According to Lito Velasco, editor of the Alberta Filipino Journal and a former seminarian in the Philippines, it is important that the essence of the papal visit is being carefully observed. 

"I feel excited just knowing that the Pope is coming over to pay Edmonton a visit for reconciliatory purposes," he added.

While all papal visits are an occasion to celebrate, the arrival of Pope Francis carries a lot of appeal for Filipinos in Canada, who admire him for being  a kind of maverick in a conservative church. 

He was elected on March 13, 2013, an unlikely choice to succeed Pope Benedict XVI who had resigned a month earlier.

In other words, the Pope was an underdog who emerged victorious, a storyline that Filipinos love.

"This pope is special," says Ida Lucila, founder and executive director of the Edmonton-based Philippine Arts Council and president of the Edmonton Philippine International Centre initiative. "The reason why he was (elected) was because of his progressive views. He is the right pope."

• Pope says he hopes Canada visit will help heal 'evil' done to Indigenous people

Like me, some Filipinos in Canada had at least one encounter with a pope back home. For those who  had none, this visit is a special one. 

"It is like having a Hollywood star come. Most of us have not abandoned our faith despite the secular influences around us," says Marjorie Newman, who runs MCN Canada Immigration Consulting in Edmonton. 

"Being Catholic is like being home. We know the prayers and the songs, the sense of belongingness and familiarity," she adds. 

"It is a place of our culture." 

Grounded in their faith

Pope Francis's visit to Edmonton reinforces this faith and sense of home among Filipinos.

It is particularly important for workers, students and immigrants who may feel disconnected when trying to establish roots here.

When the challenges of settling in or assimilating become too much, Filipinos turn to their faith to carry them through. 

The Church is our sanctuary, the Pope our leader.

While the Catholic Church remains largely conservative, Pope Francis has taken positions that are radical by traditional Catholic standards — his advocacy on climate change, his criticism of free market economics, and his call for the Church to be more tolerant and accepting of LGBT community members.

But as traditional as many Filipino Catholics remain, the reforms take nothing away from our faith in the Church and our devotion to Pope Francis. He continues to maintain rock star status, which helps keep the faith strong and steadfast among us. 

We are, after all, suckers for celebrities. And none is bigger than the Pope himself.

Some of us still remember his 2015 visit to the Philippines where he visited places in Leyte province to be with victims of a powerful typhoon. 

The image of Pope Francis celebrating mass amid a downpour is still etched in the minds of many Filipinos: the pontiff in a simple yellow poncho and drenched to the skin.

The Vicar of Christ and Successor to the Prince of the Apostles was also a simple priest who wanted to be with the people, despite a typhoon blowing in. 

This papal visit provides a sense of comfort and reinforces Filipinos' faith in the Church. 

• You can expect traffic delays in Alberta during the papal visit. Here's what you need to know

Filipinos look to a leader who embodies relatable qualities.

This is why Francis and the now-sainted John Paul II are two of the most beloved pontiffs among Filipinos: They symbolize the "good side" of the Catholic Church even amid all its controversies, including the residential school tragedy. 

Papal visits can be deeply personal events for Filipinos. Such occasions fuel the faith and remind us of our perceived "special status" as Catholics coming from the only Catholic country in Southeast Asia.

This was the descriptive definition of the Philippines in the old days, when life was much simpler. As Ida Lucila notes, "This papal visit takes you back." 

Filipinos look for spiritual comfort and reassurance wherever they are. And this is what a papal visit brings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Freelance contributor

Bing Jaleco was a longtime journalist in the Philippines. He now writes a column for the Edmonton-based Alberta Filipino Journal.

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10 years of Pope Francis: A look back at his visit in the Philippines | ABS-CBN News

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FAQs: Pope Francis’ trip to the Philippines

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Last updated January 13

MANILA, Philippines – Only a few more days until Pope Francis makes his first trip to the Philippines, and the largely Catholic nation is preparing for it in full force.  

Officials are are ramping up security as the charismatic Argentine pontiff is expected to draw an estimated 6 million people to events during his 5-day visit, possibly rivaling the 5-million-strong crowd of Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1995.

Francis’ itinerary from January 15 to 19 will include a courtesy call in Malacañang and meetings with priests, the youth, families, and consecrated persons during his 4 days in the capital, Manila.

He will also spend one day in the province of Leyte to meet with survivors of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and the 2013 earthquake  in the Visayas.

While some of the gatherings are limited to pre-selected attendees, there are several events that will give the public a glimpse of the Roman Catholic leader. 

Rappler has compiled this list of frequently asked questions and answers from the weekly press briefings of the official papal visit committee .

QUICK LINKS

Pope Francis’ Philippine itinerary

Metro Manila events

• Metro Manila cheat sheet: Routes, rules for #PopeFrancisPH
• What you need to know: Pope Francis’ UST visit
• Pope Francis in Luneta: Things you should know

Transportation

• LRT1 schedule
• LIST: No-fly zones during Pope Francis’ visit
• Flight cancellations: Papal visit in PH, January 15-19, 2015

Bank hours, operating schedules, holidays

• BSP releases operating schedule during papal visit
• LIST: Bank operations during Pope visit
• Palace declares holidays in Metro Manila for Pope visit
• Holiday in Leyte for Pope visit

Accommodation concerns

• Where to stay during Pope Francis’ Manila visit
• FYI: No camping out where Pope visits

Prohibited items

• Palace: No backpacks at Pope’s Luneta Mass
• No firearms allowed where Pope Francis will visit

Tips and guidelines for papal events

• 10 tips: Stay healthy, safe during Pope Francis events
• 11 tips: Help keep Pope Francis venues clean, orderly

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which events are open to the public?

Some of these events are limited to pre-selected attendees, but the public may still go to the venues and watch via screens that will be set up outside. 

January 16 (Friday)  

11:15 am – Holy Mass  at the Manila Cathedral with 2,000 bishops, priests, and consecrated persons. Only those with IDs will be allowed to enter the cathedral, but the public can watch the event through screens outside. Tents with seats will be set up outside the cathedral.

January 17 (Saturday)

10 am – Mass at the Tacloban Airport grounds. Up to 160,000 people may be accommodated; big screens will also be set up for the public.

January 18 (Sunday)

10:30 am – Meeting with the youth at the University of Santo Tomas. This is open to the public, but the UST football field and grandstand will be designated to around 24,000 youth delegates only.

3:30 pm – Mass at the Rizal Park. Open to the public. 

Do we need tickets to attend the events?

No tickets are issued, sold, or given away. The papal visit committee warns the public against those claiming to sell tickets to the events.

To get a better chance of having a glimpse of the Pope, the public is advised to come early to the venues and get a good spot. 

How can we get passes for the meeting with the youth in UST? The meeting with families at Mall of Asia? The meeting with Yolanda survivors in Leyte?

Only pre-selected representatives will be allowed to participate in these events. They will be chosen by their respective dioceses. In an FAQ video, the papal visit committee suggests contacting the local parish or diocese for more information.

For more details on the meeting with the youth at UST, call the UST Office of Public Affairs at (02) 731-3544.

Will Pope Francis stop for photos along his motorcade? 

It’s possible. During his visit, the Pope will be riding an open, non-bulletproof “popemobile” to represent the ideal image of a “vulnerable, open, and accessible” Church.

This will allow Francis to step off the vehicle if he chooses. In his other trips, the Pope was known to make unscheduled stops during his motorcades to chat and be with the crowds.

Can I get close to Pope Francis?

With tight security and screening from the Philippine National Police, the Presidential Security Group, and the Vatican’s own Swiss Guards, it’s unlikely.

What do I need to prepare for the UST youth encounter?

Expect the roads surrounding UST to be closed to vehicles.

UST gates will open at 4 am on January 18. The public is given designated areas in the campus.

They can enter the university through UST gates 10 and 11, which are both along Dapitan street at the back entrance to the university. The 24,000 delegates of the youth encounter can enter the university through gates 5 and 6, which are both along España boulevard near the UST football field.

READ: What you need to know: Pope Francis’ UST visit

Can I camp out near Rizal Park?

Camping out overnight in Rizal Park is not allowed. The public will be allowed to enter the park from 6 am to 1 pm on January 18.

Will there be first aid stations in Rizal Park during the Pope’s Mass?

Yes. 20 first aid stations will be set up around Rizal Park. 20 ambulances will also be deployed, along with 120 medical volunteers.

400 portalets will also be placed in strategic areas around the park.

What are the do’s and don’ts during the Luneta Mass?

Officials have advised the public to observe the following guidelines:

• Rizal Park and the Quirino Grandstand will be open at 6 am until 1 pm
• Backpacks or bags would not be allowed into the site
• Snacks and drinks are allowed but must be placed in transparent containers
• Bring fans and hats, and raincoats rather than umbrellas to provide others an unobstructed view
• Those with chronic illnesses should bring a first aid kit with any medicine they might need.
• Pregnant women are advised not to go to crowded areas.
• Bringing firecrackers and alcohol is prohibited.
• Do not bring infants. If you are bringing children, a one adult to one child ratio is recommended.
• If you need medical attention, keep calm and do not panic. Head towards the nearest first aid station.

READ:  10 tips: Stay healthy, safe during Pope Francis events

Where are the no-firearms zones?

The following areas are declared “ Firearms Free Zones “:

• Nunciature Area, Taft Avenue, Manila
• Malacañang Palace
• Manila Cathedral
• SM Arena, Mall of Asia
• Villamor Airbase, Pasay City
• University of Santo Tomas
• Quirino Grandstand
• Tacloban City
• Palo, Leyte

The ban applies to all civilians with gun licenses, as well as uniformed personnel (such as the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines) who are in civilian attire.

Can I fly drones to better get a view of the Pope?

No.  Violators will be apprehended and face fines between P300,000 ($6679)* to P500,000 ($11,100).

A 3-nautical-mile radius, from the surface up to 18,000 feet from certain areas where the Pope, are also declared no-fly zones.

Will there be work during Pope Francis’ visit?

January 15, 16, and 19 have been declared special (non-working) days in the National Capital Region.

Where will the Pope stay?

Pope Francis will stay at the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue in Manila. It is the Holy See’s representation in the Philippines.

What vehicles will the Pope use?

He will be riding in an open-top, jeepney-inspired popemobile .

There will be a total of 3 vehicles: the jeepney-style popemobile, an Isuzu vehicle, and a Kia vehicle.

Are merchandise bearing the papal visit logo legal?

While the official logo is copyrighted, independent sellers are not prohibited from creating their own designs and integrating elements of the papal visit, such as the theme and image of the Pope, in items that can be sold to commemorate the event.

What flights will be cancelled?

Local and foreign air carriers have suspended flights in the Philippines on these dates:

• Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila
• Primary runway (06/24) and secondary runway (13/31) closed for all arriving flights
• Departing flights allowed to operate from 2:00-5:15 pm.
• No fly zone between 5:15-6:15pm
• Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, Tacloban City
• Closed from 6:00 am-9:00 pm, except for Papal entourage’s aircraft
• Ninoy Aquino International Airport
• Closed from 7:45 am – 8:45 am, and from 5:45 – 6:45 pm
• Open for departing aircraft between 6:00 am – 9:30 am
• No fly zone from 9:30 am – 10:30 am

Check the full list here:  Flight cancellations: Papal visit in PH, January 15-19, 2015

What airport roads will be closed?  

The following roads will be closed:

• January 15: Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, and Domestic Road (3 pm to 7 pm)
• January 19: Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, and Domestic Road (7 am to 10 am)

On these dates, Ninoy Aquino International Airport can only be accessed through South Superhighway, Bicutan, Sucat, and Alabang roads.

I’m going to Manila for the Pope’s visit. Where can I stay?

Check out this list of hotels near key areas such as the Manila Cathedral, Mall of Asia, University of Santo Tomas, and Rizal Park.

Where can we send donations for the papal visit?

Check donations should be made payable to RCAM-Papal Visit.

Cash donations are accepted through these accounts:

• BPI: Current Account 0051-0556-75
• Security Bank: Savings Account 0061-015085-001

Donors are advised to inform the papal visit finance committee at (02) 527-2995 or email [email protected]. 

Where can I monitor updates? 

Visit  Rappler’s #PopeFrancisPH microsite  for the latest stories, images, conversations, and perspective pieces on the Pope’s visit to the Philippines.

An official papal visit app (papalvisitph) is also available on iOS and Android. The app links to the Pope’s Twitter account ( @pontifex ) and official websites. It also features news updates and the Pope’s Philippine itinerary, a photo gallery, the National Prayer for the Papal Visit, and a “prayer wall” for petitions.

– Rappler.com  

Join Rappler in a  100-day countdown to Pope Francis’ visit  to the Philippines: a journey from the Vatican to Tacloban. Tweet us your thoughts using the hashtag #PopeFrancisPH!

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All you need to know about the papal visit

MANILA, Philippines – Pope Francis arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Tuesday morning, on the first leg of his second visit to Asia. He will arrive in Manila on Thursday, at 5:45 p.m. INQUIRER.net compiled a list of frequently asked questions regarding Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines as well as previous papal visits of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II.

1. What is the purpose of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Visit?

The main purpose of the Pope’s visit is to be with the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan), the strongest typhoon in history to make landfall. He has also in the past said he would like to visit Asia because his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, never got to, because of health reasons. He visited South Korea last August.

2. Why the theme ‘Mercy and Compassion’?

According to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, mercy and compassion commonly figure in Pope Francis’ teachings, homilies and actions. The Pope has also called on the faithful to practice these traits when interacting with the poor and in need.

• CBCP puts up website for papal visit 

3. Will there be work or classes during the papal visit?

Jan. 15, 16 and 19 have been declared special nonworking holidays in the National Capital Region to give the public more opportunity to participate in the papal visit.

In Tacloban City, Jan. 15 and 16 have been declared special nonworking holidays. Classes have also been suspended from Jan. 14 to 16. In Palo, classes have been suspended on Jan. 15 and 16 only.

• 3 papal visits declared special nonworking days

4. What Masses and other events are open to the public?

Most events may be attended by the public via big screens to be set up outside, but certain groups will be given priority in designated events. No tickets are needed.

• The Mass at Manila Cathedral (Jan. 16, 11:15 a.m.) is open to the public, but only delegates from dioceses across the country can be accommodated inside the church due to the limited space. Tents and chairs will be set up outside the cathedral for the public.
• The Meeting of the Families at Mall of Asia (Jan. 16, 5:30 p.m.) is not open to the public and will be attended by families preselected by the dioceses.
• The Mass at the Tacloban airport (Jan. 17, 9:30 a.m.) is open to the public but the venue can accommodate less than 200,000 people.
• The youth dialogue at the University of Santo Tomas (Jan. 18, 9:45 a.m.) is open to the public, but the quadrangle will be reserved for students and youth representatives.
• The Mass at Quirino Grandstand (Jan. 18, 3:30 p.m.) is open to the public.

5. What should we expect from the Mass at Quirino Grandstand?

6. Will the Masses and addresses all be in English?

Majority of the Pope’s Masses and addresses will be in English so as to reach more people. Only the Mass at Manila Cathedral will be in Latin, as the main attendees are bishops and preselected members of the dioceses, who are expected to understand Latin. In all events, however, the Pope could make off-the-cuff remarks in either Italian or Spanish, the languages he is most comfortable with. In South Korea last year, however, Pope Francis also offered impromptu remarks in English.

• Pope Francis to say Masses in English in PH visit
• Pope Francis polishes his English for PH visit

7. Where will the Pope stay while in the Philippines?

As in the past, the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue, Manila, is the official quarters of all visitors from the Vatican.

8. Where will the Pope’s motorcade pass?

• From Villamor Air Base to the Apostolic Nunciature on Jan. 15, starting 6 p.m. People may line the streets starting 2 p.m.
• From the Apostolic Nunciature to Malacanang on Jan. 16, from 8 a.m.
• From Malacañang to Manila Cathedral on Jan. 16, from 10:15  a.m.
• From Manila Cathedral to Apostolic Nunciature on Jan. 16, starting 12 p.m.
• From Apostolic Nunciature Mall of Asia on Jan. 16, between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• From the Apostolic Nunciature to Villamor Airbase on Jan. 17, around 7 a.m.
• From the Tacloban airport to Gonzaga Haus on Jan. 17, between 10 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
• From Pope Francis Center for the Poor to Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration in Palo, Leyte, between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• From Villamor Air Base to Apostolic Nunciature on Jan. 17, starting 5 p.m.
• From Apostolic Nunciature to University of Santo Tomas on Jan. 18, starting 6:30 a.m.
• From Apostolic Nunciature to Quirino Grandstand on Jan. 18, between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• From Quirino Grandstand to Apostolic Nunciature on Jan. 18, after the Mass at Luneta
• From Apostolic Nunciature to Villamor Air Base on Jan. 19, between 6 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.

9. What is the Popemobile for the Philippine visit?

Three Popemobiles have been prepared for the papal visit: one for Manila, one for Tacloban City and one backup vehicle.

In Manila, Pope Francis will ride in a white converted jeepney, the most common form of public transport in the Philippines. Some of its unique features include a secure, elevated platform to give the Pope a better view of the public, open windows and, found at each side of the jeep, glass crosses made by renowned sculptor Randy Orlina.

The vehicle to be used in Tacloban is the same Korean-made vehicle from World Youth Day in South Korea.

• Pope Francis to tour Manila in custom-made jeepney

10. What should we do, wear or bring during the papal events?

11. Is it true that some flights have been canceled due to the papal visit?

Around 423 international and domestic flights scheduled between 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 15 and between 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 19 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been canceled to make way for the papal visit.

• MIAA to meet with airlines execs over Naia arrangements for Pope Francis visit
• PAL adjusts flights during papal visit
• Cebu Pacific cancels flights in Naia for Pope Francis visit
• AirAsia cancels flights in Naia for papal visit

12. Does this also mean that roads to and from Naia will also be closed?

The whole stretch of Sales Avenue to Andrews Avenue, Domestic Road to Park and Fly, and MIA Road going to Roxas Boulevard will be closed from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 15 and from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Jan. 16. Some Naia terminals will be accessible only via South Superhighway through Bicutan, Alabang and Sucat Road.

• Airport roads to be closed Jan. 15, 16 for Pope Francis visit

Quirino Grandstand will also be closed from when the Pope arrives until 6 a.m., Jan. 18.

• Pope Francis to roam around 58-hectare Rizal Park to bless people before Holy Mass 

Past papal visits

1. how many popes have visited the philippines.

Two popes have visited the country thrice. Pope Paul VI visited the Philippines in 1970 and Pope John Paul II visited in 1981 and 1995.

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Read the details of their visits here:

• Speeches of previous popes who visited the Philippines

2. Why didn’t Pope Benedict XVI visit the Philippines during his term?

The previous Pontiff said his health prevented him from traveling for long hours. His health was also the reason behind his decision to step down from the papacy in 2013.

Sources: Inquirer.net, papalvisit.ph, vatican.va

Originally posted: 1:03 PM | Tuesday, January 13th, 2015

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