Papal Visit Philippines 2014 and 2015 2014
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This event is dedicated to the Filipino People on the occasion of the five- day pastoral and state visit of Pope Francis here in the Philippines on October 23 to 27, 2014 part of 22- day Asian and Oceanian tour from October 22 to November 13, 2014. Papal Visit Philippines 2014 and 2015 ―Mercy and Compassion‖ a Papal Visit Philippines 2014 and 2015 2014 Contents About the project ............................................................................................... 2 About the Theme of the Apostolic Visit: ‗Mercy and Compassion‘.................................. 4 History of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide.............................................................................. 6 Executive Branch of the Philippines ....................................................................... 15 Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines ....................................................................... 15 Vice Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines .............................................................. 16 Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines ............................................ 16 Presidents of the Senate of the Philippines .......................................................................... 17 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines ...................................................... 17 Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church ................................................................ 18 Pope (Roman Catholic Bishop of Rome and Worldwide Leader of Roman Catholic Church) ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila ................................................................................ 24 The Life of Pope Francis/ Jorge Mario Bergoglio .................................................. 25 Childhood in a happy Catholic family ................................................................................. 25 Growing up with the Salesians................................................................................................ 26 The Grandma Who Stood Up to Mussolini ............................................................................ 28 Preparations for the event (August 2013-September 30, 2014) ........................... 29 Paseo de Manila tourism zone to rise in Luneta Park ......................................................... 29 The 2013 Year-End Report ....................................................................................................... 31 DOLE – A year of building legacy .......................................................................................... 37 The Pope in Manila: Pre-papal activities .............................................................................. 52 The visit (October 22-30, 2014) ............................................................................... 68 The Purpose of the Apostolic Visit .......................................................................................... 69 Pre-Papal Activities (October 17-23, 2014) .......................................................................... 70 Pope Francis' First Visit to the Philippines (October 23-31, 2014) ...................................... 73 After the celebration .............................................................................................................. 443 About the project The Preparation for the Visit of Pope Francis was announced on July 28, 2014. The tri-media coverage was on all local television networks, national newspapers and radio stations to cover it the event. It was the once of a lifetime event to celebrate the Roman Catholic Charismatic renewal religious movement ―Jesus is Lord Church‖ on it‘s annual anniversary celebration in October since 1979 and the 20th anniversary of the song ―Tell the World of His Love‖ composed by Trina Belamide released in January 1994. It was the theme song of Tenth World Youth Day 1995 Manila, held last January 12 to 15, 1995. World Youth Day is a worldwide religious gathering of youth presided by a Pope. Every World Youth Day has had its own theme song. ―Tell The World of His Love‖ is the theme song of the 1995 World Youth Day which was held in the Philippines. 2 Papal Visit Philippines 2014 and 2015 2014 In January 1994, a nationwide song-writing contest for the theme song of World Youth Day 1995 was launched in the Philippines. The entry ―Tell the World of His Love‖ was chosen. The song was composed by Trina Belamide whose real name is Katrina Marie Concepcion Ruiz Belamide. Prior to the contest, she has already been writing songs for different Filipino artists for three years. In an interview, Ms. Belamide was asked how she came out with the beautiful lyrics and the melody of the song. Ms. Belamide explained, "I started the song with the title, Tell the World of His Love, and I built it from there. Actually, I didn't have a rough time writing the lyrics. I had a rough time with the melody. I had a clear vision of what I really wanted. I wanted the people to sway with the music. And I pictured them with a “lighter” in their hands as they sang it. I wanted a melody that could easily get the "feel" of the youth.” As a Filipino, I'm so proud of this song. It was played at St. Peter's Square on the day of Pope John Paul II's beatification. It was reportedly one of the late Pope's favorite songs. The project: ―The Pope in Manila 2014‖ was formally planned in November 2013 after the installation of Pope Francis on March 13, 2013 in Vatican. The date of the visit of the Pope from October 23 to 27, 2014 in Manila and again, January 15 to 19, 2015 for the Twentieth Anniversary of World Youth Day Manila held last January 12 to 15, 1995. The month-long ―Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide Anniversary Festival‖ opens on October 1 at the Rizal Park and ends on November 12, 2014. 3 Papal Visit Philippines 2014 and 2015 2014 About the Theme of the Apostolic Visit: “Mercy and Compassion” The Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines from October 23-27, 2014 and January 15 – 19, 2015 will have for its theme ―Mercy and Compassion‖. Pope Francis will visit the Philippines primarily to comfort Filipinos devastated by the typhoon and the earthquake that hit the Visayas in October and November 2013 and again that hit Luzon in July to September 2014. This visit calls to mind what Jesus did as recounted in the Gospel. In Matthew 9:36, Jesus after ―seeing the people, felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.‖ And like the Good Shepherd of Whom he is the Vicar here on earth, the Holy Father saw the suffering of his flock. He felt compassion and comes to us bringing ―the joy of the gospel‖ to revive our ―drooping spirit‖ and to lead us to greener pastures (cf. Psalm 23). The message the Holy Father brings with him challenges us to imitate Christ, the Good Shepherd, who is Mercy and Compassion. In his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis proclaims that ―the Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel‖ (Evangelii Gaudium 114). Thus, the Holy Father‘s visit is to bring Christ‘s compassion for our suffering people still struggling to rise from the devastations wrought by the earthquake on October 16 and the typhoon that hit the Visayas on November 8 last year and the typhoon Glenda in July, Luis and recent tropical storm Mario and monsoon rains that hit the Metro Manila and Luzon on September 19. Catholic Bishops‘ Conference of the Philippines president and Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the most distinctive way to prepare spiritually for the coming of Pope Francis is for the country to become ―a people rich in mercy.‖ ―Our compassionate shepherd comes to show his deep concern for our people who have gone through devastating calamities, especially in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. He 4 Papal Visit Philippines 2014 and 2015 2014 comes to confirm us in our faith as we face the challenges of witnessing the Joy of the Gospel in the midst of our trials. This is an eloquent way of showing mercy and compassion,‖ Archbishop Villegas said. Filipinos as a preparation for the papal visit resolve to make an act of mercy everyday, such as giving food to the hungry, helping build homes for the disaster victims, visiting prisoners or patients in the charity ward of hospitals, drug rehabilitation centers, homes for the elderly, and orphanages. It is a time to re-learn and live the Spiritual and Corporal Acts of Mercy. Further, the bishops encourage us to meet Christ, Mercy Himself, in the Tribunal of Mercy, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There, in the person of the priest, He awaits us with open arms to show us His mercy, compassion and love. ―Let us make mercy our national identity. Trust in God‘s mercy is part and parcel of our traditional Filipino Christian culture. Let us make the practice of mercy our gift to the pope when he comes to visit us,‖ the CBCP president said at that time. The Logo COLORS. The colors of the logo (blue, red, and yellow) are the colors of the Philippine flag. The colors therefore represent the country and its people. It is in solidarity with the victims of recent calamities from October 2013 to September 2014 that the Pope is coming to the Philippines. CIRCLES. The innermost circle resembles a pearl,