MANILA, Philippines – Following Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines, INQUIRER.net takes a look back at all the papal visits celebrated by the nation.
Since 1970, there have been three papal visits by two Popes to the country. Pope Francis’ five-day apostolic visit last January 15 to 19, 2015 is the latest.
Pope Paul VI was the first Pontiff to step on Philippine soil in November 1970. On his first day, he survived an assassination attempt by a Bolivian painter and on his last day, he made his first Asian radio address at the office of Radio Veritas, which was then newly inaugurated.
Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines twice during his 27-year reign. In February 1981, he beatified the now St. Lorenzo Ruiz in Manila, the first beatification held outside of Rome. Fourteen years later, John Paul II went back to Manila in January 1995 to concelebrate World Youth Day, a gathering that drew in a record-breaking 5 million people.
To read each of their speeches, click on the respective links.
Speeches of Pope Paul VI made into a word cloud shows the highlights of his statements while in the Philippines. Among the most commonly used words are Asia, brothers, faith, and Philippines. (Word cloud made with Wordle)
1. Pope Paul VI in the Philippines – November 27 to 29, 1970
1. Arrival message at Manila International Airport
2. Homily in Manila Cathedral
3. Statement to President of the Philippines
4. Address to the diplomatic corps (No English translation)
5. Address to a delegation from Formosa (now Taiwan)
6. Statement to the academe delivered at University of Santo Tomas
7. Address to all the bishops of Asia
8. Appeal for the peace in Vietnam (No English translation)
9. Homily during the Mass held at Luneta
10. Homily during the Mass held at Quezon Circle
11. Radio message to all the people of Asia
12. Address to the Catholic laity
13. Address to members of various communities
14. Departure message at Manila International Airport
The speeches delivered by Pope John Paul II in his first visit to the Philippines in 1981 made into a word cloud shows which words he spoke most often. The highlights of his speeches are about the love, humans, the church and people. (Word cloud made with Wordle)
2. Pope John Paul II in the Philippines – February 17 to 22, 1981
1. Arrival message at Manila International Airport (No English translation)
2. Homily during the Mass at Manila Cathedral
3. Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baclaran (No English translation)
4. Address to the Women Religious at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
5. Statement to the President of the Philippines
6. Address to the Philippine Episcopate and Asian Bishops
7. Address to professionals delivered at Araneta Coliseum
8. Address to students of the University of Santo Tomas
9. Address to the poor people in Tondo, Manila
10. Homily during the Mass for the beatification of Lorenzo Ruiz
11. Address to the Chinese Catholic communities in Asia
12. Address to the diplomatic corps
13. Homily during the Mass for peace
14. Address to priests and seminarians at Cebu City
15. Homily during Mass for families at Cebu City
16. Homily during Mass for communities in Davao City
17. Meeting with representatives of the Muslim community at Davao airport (No English translation)
18. Address to landowners and workers of sugar-cane plantations delivered at Bacolod City
19. Address to representatives of Catholic organizations and movements delivered in Iloilo City
20. Homily during Mass for farmers at Legazpi City
21. Address to refugees in a camp in Morong, Bataan
22. Meeting with a group of lepers in Tala at Radio Veritas (No English translation)
23. Address during visit to the auditorium of Radio Veritas Asia
24. Address to the representatives of the mass media (No English translation)
25. Address to the representatives of the other Christian Churches in the Philippines (No English translation)
26. Address to the labor committees (No English translation)
27. Homily during Mass for indigenous tribes at Baguio City
28. Angelus, Baguio City (No English translation)
29. Departure message at Manila International Airport (No English translation)
Speeches of Pope John Paul II during his second visit to the Philippines in 1995 made into a word cloud shows the words he used most often. Among the highlights of his speeches are about the Church, the youth, people, and the world. (Word cloud made with Wordle)
3. Pope John Paul II in the Philippines – January 12 to 16, 1995
1. Arrival message at Ninoy Aquino International Airport
2. Homily during the Mass for representatives of the international youth forum at the University of Santo Tomas
3. Address to the students and representatives of the University of Santo Tomas
4. Video message to the youth taking part in the way of the cross
5. Homily during the Mass celebrating the fourth centenary of the Archdiocese of Manila and the Dioceses of Cebu, Caceres and Nueva Segovia
6. Address to the episcopal conference of the Philippines
7. Address in commemoration of the 25th founding anniversary of Radio Veritas
8. Address to the youth at Rizal Park on World Youth Day (Some parts in Spanish)
9. Homily during the Mass on the Solemn Eucharistic Concelebration
10. Angelus at Rizal Park in Manila
11. Address to the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences
12. Address at the conclusion of the meeting with delegates of the Federation of Episcopal Conferences
13. Departure message at Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Pope Francis’ speeches in the Philippines made into a word cloud shows the words he used most often. Among the highlights of his speeches are about love, the youth, the family, families, and society. (Word cloud made with Wordle)
4. Pope Francis in the Philippines – January 15 to 19, 2015
1. Pope Francis Statement in Malacanang
2. Homily of Pope Francis in Manila Cathedral
3. Pope Francis’ address during the ‘Meeting with Families’
4. Homily of Pope Francis at Tacloban airport
5. Message of Pope Francis to Filipino youth at UST
6. Homily of Pope Francis during Mass at Luneta