Stamps tell stories of Phl Papal visits

The visit of Pope Francis brings back fond memories of the two other popes who have visited the country, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II who is now a saint. Their visits are featured on stamps which are part of Funfare contributor Celso de Guzman Caparas’ memorabilia.

The Philippines was the third stop of the apostolic pilgrimage of Pope Paul VI to West Asia, Australia and Oceania in 1970. As a cub reporter for the old Manila Times, I covered his visit to a poor family at a slum area in Tondo, published as a scoop the next day.

The 1981 visit of Pope John Paul II, released on Feb. 17, 1981, printed by Staderini of Italy through lithography process.

“During his three-day visit (Nov. 27 to 29),” recalled Celso, “the pope toured Nayong Pilipino, celebrated Mass at the Manila Cathedral and Quezon City Circle, attended a reception at Malacañang Palace, ordained priests at the Rizal Park, attended the meeting of the Asian Bishops, met students and professors in UST, read a message on air to the people of Asia through Radio Veritas and visited Tondo residents.”

Born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini on Sept. 26, 1897, in Concesio, Lombardy, Italy, he was elected to the papacy on June 21, 1963, and reigned up to his death on Aug. 6, 1978. Called “The Pilgrim Pope,” he was beatified by Pope Francis on Oct. 19 last year.

The death of Pope John Paul II, released on June 28, 2005, printed by Amstar Company, Inc. through lithography process.

Next to visit the country twice was Pope John Paul II, first in 1981 (Feb. 17 to 22) and then in 1995 (Jan. 12 to 16).  

Reports Celso, “In 1981, the highlight of the pope’s visit was the celebration of a Holy Mass on the beatification of Filipino martyr Lorenzo Ruiz at the Rizal Park (also canonized by the said pope on Oct. 18, 1987 at the Vatican City), the first to be held outside the Vatican City. He also celebrated Mass at the Manila Cathedral and Quezon City Circle; met with the religious women in the National Sanctuary of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, students and professors in UST, representatives of Christians of Overseas Chinese communities/diplomatic corps/professionals at the Araneta Coliseum, a group of lepers in Tala and members of mass media in Radio Veritas Auditorium, representatives of labor committees and other Christian churches at the Apostolic Nunciature; and visited the Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian war refugees in Morong, Bataan and the poor in Tondo. The pope’s itinerary also included Cebu City, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi City and Baguio City.”

The canonization of Pope John Paul II, released on Apr. 27, 2014, printed by Thai British Security Printer through lithography offset process.

Pope John Paul II returned in 1995 to celebrate Holy Mass for the representatives of the International Youth Forum who came to the country for the 10th World Youth Day held in the University of Santo Tomas. Initiated in 1986, the World Youth Day was the brainchild of Pope John Paul II and the Philippines was the first Asian country to host the event.

“Songwriter and record producer Trina Belamide’s Tell The World of His Love, interpreted by Jamie Rivera, won the top prize in the theme song search,” said Celso. Incidentally, Rivera’s composition, We Are All God’s Children (which she herself sung), is the official theme song of Pope Francis’ visit.

Born Karol Jósef Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 in the Polish town of Wadowice, Pope John Paul II’s papacy started on Oct. 16, 1978, and lasted until his death on April 2, 2005. He was beatified on May 1, 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI and canonized by Pope Francis on Apr. 17, 2014 at the St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City. Since then, he’s referred to as Pope Saint John Paul II or Saint John Paul the Great.

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