Pope leading rites for 500 years of Philippine Christianity

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis will lead the Filipino community in Italy in celebrating 500 years since the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced yesterday.

In an article, the CBCP said that Fr. Ricky Gente of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome disclosed that the celebration of the Philippines’ 500 years of Christianity will be highlighted with a mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica at 10 a.m. on March 14.

Gente said that only a limited number of people will be allowed to attend the mass physically inside the basilica due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he said it will be livestreamed from the Vatican to reach Filipinos worldwide.

“Join us in Rome to pray, praise and thank God for his gift of the Christian faith,” Gente said.

He said former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will be present during the mass along with Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, the pope’s vicar of Rome.

Gente said the Catholic faithful can receive blessings from Pope Francis as he will also lead the traditional Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at noon shortly after his mass at Vatican Square.

The Philippines will be celebrating 500 years of Christianity, CBCP said, with most dioceses launching the year-long commemoration on April 4, Easter Sunday.

Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown said Pope Francis has a special place in his heart for the Filipino people as he recalled his visit to the Philippines in 2015, two years after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban City.

For his part, Brown urged the Filipino faithful to be proud of their religion not only because of the 500 years of Christianity, but because of their strong Catholic character as he appreciates their efforts to spread the word of Jesus Christ wherever they are around the world.

“Rejoice in your Catholic heritage; be proud of your Catholic character,” Brown said.

Brown said the quincentennial of Christianity is a gift for the Filipino faithful to commit themselves to evangelization.