Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown has expressed admiration for the strong faith and resilience of the Filipinos amid the pandemic and the destruction caused by typhoon Odette.

"Such a profound respect and admiration for the faith of the Filipino people down there in Surigao and in Bohol and all of these places that got hit by the typhoon. Their faith is really unconquered. Your church partially collapsed but your faith did not collapse at all, so strong. It is beautiful to see your faith," said Archbishop Brown over Radio Veritas.

The Papal envoy recently visited the Diocese of Surigao to personally check on the situation of calamity survivors. The Church leader chose to spend Christmas with the victims of typhoon Odette.

"I didn’t see discouragement. I saw determination as the people are working together. You will see a synodal church in the sense that everyone is helping each other to go forward together, trying to repair the damages from the typhoon. No one was left behind even the poorest of the poor," Brown added.

Aside from Siargao Island and Surigao City, Archbishop Brown also visited Dinagat Islands, making the prelate the first Papal representative to visit the island.

"Please continue to be generous and let us help these people," he said.

Caritas Manila, the social action arm of the Manila archdiocese earlier sent one million pesos to the Diocese of Surigao to help fund relief and rehabilitation efforts.