Pope Francis may now be flying back to Rome, but it looks like the pope mania remains stronger than ever in the Philippines. A local community theater even showed a play based on the pontiff's life at the Cultural Center of the Philippines during the papal visit week. 

 

Teatru Kapampangan's "I Love Pope Francis the Musical" is about the life of former Argentina Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio when he was called to priesthood and inaugurated as a pope until he visited the country. 

 

"The play is about the life of Pope Francis, simula noong nagkaroon siya ng calling sa Argentina up to the time noong na-inaugurate siya to nagpunta siya sa Pilipinas and how he touches the lives of the people all over the world," director Andy Alvis shared in a report on Unang Balita that aired on Monday. 

The play included scenes from Pope Francis' visit to Tacloban, the centerpiece of his trip to the Philippines, amid threats of a storm. 

 

"I Love Pope Francis the Musical" includes 24 original songs and the cast includes more than a hundred lay people. 

 

The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences has nothing but praises for the play. 

 

"The production, the casting, the lyrics, the wordings—even the visuals you provided over there--they were really outstanding," FABC president Archbishop Oswald Cardinal Gracias said. 

 

The theater group have already received invitations to perform in other countries, especially in Rome. —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News