Pope Francis to join Philippines' celebration of 500 Years of Christianity in Italy

Pope Francis will join the celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines with a Filipino community based in Italy, according to a post on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Ricky Gente, a Scalabrinian priest of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome, said the Pope will lead the mass that will be held at St. Peter's Basilica on March 14, 2021 at 5 p.m.

The other participants expected to join the celebration are Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the pope’s vicar of Rome.

There would be some limitations during the event due to the health protocol related to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, there will be a limited number of people who will be physically present at the event, which will also be livestreamed.

“Join us in Rome to pray, praise and thank God for his gift of the Christian faith,” Gente was quoted as saying.

After the Mass, Pope Francis will lead the recitation of the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square.

“You can also receive blessings from the pope after mass in Vatican Square where he will lead the Angelus prayer at noon,” Gente said.

In the Philippines, most dioceses will launch the year-long commemoration on April 4, Easter Sunday. -- BAP, GMA News