Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos has called on overseas Filipino workers in Italy to join Pope Francis’ Eucharistic celebration on March 14 at 10 a.m. at the St. Peter’s Basilica in celebration of the 500 years anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.
(CBCP / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We, at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, appeal to our OFWs in Italy to make use of this spiritual celebration as our missions to help and to heal, to be disciples of mercy and peace for one another from our country to the world,”Santos said over Radio Veritas.
“For His Holiness to lead the holy mass for us Filipinos is a huge blessing and privilege and an inspiration for all of the us to strengthen our spiritual lives,” Santos added.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, vicar of the Holy Father in Rome will co-celebrate the mass.
The Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome said OFWs in Italy may join the mass online as only about 100 people will be allowed at the basilica because of the pandemic.
Santos, chairman of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filipino said Pope Francis’ gesture is a testament to his deep affection for Filipinos.
“We have to glorify God for that holy and historic day, and be ever grateful to our Holy Father. The Holy Mass of our beloved Pope Francis in the Vatican in celebration of our 500 Years of Christianity is a great moment of God’s graces for our overseas Filipino migrants. It is an overflowing blessing for us all, Filipinos and shows the deep affection of our Holy Father to our country,” the prelate said.
Fr. Ricky Gente of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome earlier relayed the good news that Pope Francis will lead the holy mass for the 500 years anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines on March 14.
Filipinos from around the world, he said, will receive the pontiff’s apostolic blessing which will be done after the praying of the Angelus at the Vatican square following the mass.
Santos urged everyone to pray for the success of the celebration.