Pope John Paul IIs relics will be in PHL starting April Relics of Blessed Pope John Paul II will be on public display for two months in at least 10 locations in the country starting this April. An news article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news website said the exhibit is part of the “Totus Tuus Tour,” organized by the Office for the Cause for Canonization of Blessed Ivan Merz in the Philippines, on the occasion of the late pope’s canonization on April 27. Bro. Dave dela Cruz, chairman of the group that organized the event, said there will be two sets of relics, many of which are coming from Poland and Rome. Among the relics are the Pope’s bloodstain and hair strands, his papal zucchetto and part of his cassock. Dela Cruz added that about 50 replicas will also be on display, including John Paul II’s skullcap, purificator, bishop’s chasuble, and a priest’s stole that he used during the beatification of Lorenzo Ruiz in Manila in 1981. He noted that all of the important relics will be displayed and will be available for veneration by the faithful. The relics will be on display at the following locations: Radio Veritas Chapel in Quezon City on April 1; Blessed John Paul II Parish in Eastwood, Quezon City on April 26 to May 18; St. Joseph Parish in Upper Bicutan, Taguig City on May 9 to 12; Holy Cross Parish in Matingain, Lemery, Batangas on May 13 to 16; Holy Family Parish in Kamias, Quezon City on May 17 to 18; Immaculate Conception Parish at the GSIS village in Project 8, Quezon City on May 24 to 25 and; Sta. Maria de la Cabeza Mission Station in Brgy. Mangoso, Sigma, Capiz on May 26 to 30. The tour will end at the St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Conception Dos, Marikina City on May 31 to June 1. Next month, Pope Francis is set to declare the Polish pontiff a saint at a service in the Vatican, where a number of heads of state and several hundred thousand pilgrims are expected in Rome for the occasion. Totus Tuus is a Latin phrase for “totally yours” which was the late Pope’s apostolic motto. Pope John Paul II had a close bond with Filipino Catholics and made two trips to the Philippines – in 1981 and in 1995.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 08:35:33 +0000