Pope Francis will celebrate mass at the Vatican on March 14 (Sunday) to mark 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, in a show of solidarity with the largest Catholic nation in Asia.
The Pope, who was just in Iraq on a historic visit, will officiate the mass at 10 a.m. local time (5 p.m. in Manila), Fr. Ricky Gente of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome told Church-run CBCP News.
The quincentennial of Christianity also marks 500 years since Portuguese conquistador Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines, colonizing it for Spain. The occupation would last three centuries and religion was one of its most enduring influences.
“Join us in Rome to pray, praise and thank God for his gift of the Christian faith,” Gente said.
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Francis will proceed to St. Peter's Basicilia for the angelus and blessing at noon on the same day (around 7 p.m. in Manila), Gente said.
In the Philippines, the Archdiocese of Manila kicked off the quincentennial celebrations last February 6, with a mass at the Manila Cathedral.
The Manila Cathedral is also among the pioneers in the country for livestream masses, which have become a lifeline for catholics during the pandemic where not everyone can go to church.
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