It was in 1521 that Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed in the Philippines at the head of a Spanish expedition to reach the East by sailing West. He planted a cross and led in the celebration of the first mass in the Philippines on Easter Sunday in what church officials believ
Published March 5, 2021, 2:58 PM
For Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, the Mass of Pope Francis in the Vatican for the celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines shows his “deep affection” to the country.
This photo taken and handout on March 03, 2021 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis holding a live streamed weekly private general audience in the the library of the apostolic palace at The Vatican. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP)
“It is a overflowing blessings for us all, Filipinos and shows deep affection of our Holy Father to our country,” he said in a statement on Friday, March 5.
Pope Francis will lead the Filipino community in Italy in celebrating the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines, a Filipino priest based in Rome said.
Scalabrinian Fr. Ricky Gente of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome said the celebration will be highlighted with a Mass to be officiated by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica at 10 a.m. (5 p.m. in the Philippines) on March 14.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the pope’s vicar of Rome, will also be present in the event.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, a limited number of people will be allowed to attend the Mass physically inside the basilica.
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