Thousands of Filipinos venerate Saint John Paul II's blood relic at Manila Cathedral

Thousands of Filipinos on Saturday lined up for the public veneration of the Blood Relic of St. John Paul II, which recently arrived at the Manila Cathedral.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle presided the welcome Mass at the cathedral and who expressed his joy upon the arrival of the precious artifact.

In his homily, Tagle said the presence of the relic in the country is a sign of the former Pope's "welcoming heart" towards the Filipinos.

Cardinal Tagle celebrates Mass to welcome the blood relic of St. John Paul II at the Manila Cathedral. #CBCPNews pic.twitter.com/CtZ8AcgGbW

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Tagle: The life of mission continues, but it is life in Christ, life in the risen Lord… So that the new life would truly happen. #CBCPNews

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Devotees, meanwhile, patiently lined up to have an encounter with the blood remains of the saint.

Thousands of Catholics line up to venerate the blood relic of Saint John Paul II after a Mass with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the Manila Cathedral on Saturday. ???? @roilagarde #StJohnPaul2 #catholic #Saints #cbcpnews #news pic.twitter.com/IZsag3qC5g

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Pila para sa veneration ng relic ni Saint John Paul II ngayong araw sa Manila Cathedral @YouScoop pic.twitter.com/bNp95AFbcT

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In a report by Rida Reyes' on Balitanghali, Tagle said the relic serves as a special gift from the Vatican as the Manila Cathedral celebrates its 60th anniversary after it was destroyed during the World War II.

Tagle said it is a huge blessing for the Filipinos to have the blood relic Saint John Paul II, who is known to be one of the most beloved pope of Filipinos.

As a Pope, John Paul II visited the country twice - in February 1981 when he beatified several martyrs, including Lorenzo Ruiz, who became the Philippines' first saint, and in January 1995 to celebrate the World Youth Day.

The blood relic of the Filipino's beloved pontiff is encased in a reliquary, which is an exact replica of the one used during the pope’s beatification and canonization at the Vatican.

The relic is just one of the seven vials of the former Pope.

The public veneration of the blood relic will continue on Sunday, which is also Divine Mercy Sunday, from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. —Jamil Santos/ALG, GMA News