In the Philippines, Masses are celebrated within shopping mall chapels. Crucifixes hang on the walls of public offices. Street signs caution citizens to be considerate of the ongoing Masses nearby. The Philippines is the third largest Catholic nation in the world, with 86 percent of the population identifying as Catholic.
On March 14, Filipinos celebrated the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Catholicism, with Pope Francis, or “Lolo Kiko” as Filipinos fondly call him, leading Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica. The theme was “Gifted to Give” which focused on how the sense of abundance in God’s gifts leads to the desire of widely sharing the blessing of faith.
Some Filipinos have expressed how they felt about the Holy See’s celebration of the quincentenary. Mercedes Arrastia Tuason, the Philippines’ ambassador to the Holy See, said the people were “very enthusiastic, hoping this would bring a renewed sense of morality and faith.” A member of the Filipino-American Catholic faithful said: “It is wonderful that the Holy Father is celebrating the universality of the Catholic faith which reaches the farthest corners of the world.” Pope Francis addressed the people over live-stream at the Mass, saying, “I want to thank you for the joy you bring to the whole world and to our Christian communities.”
The pope then spoke of three mysteries of the faith: Nazareth, the Cross, and Pentecost. Regarding Nazareth, Pope Francis commented on how the Philippines’ love of the Holy Child reflects their appreciation for the Holy Family, and this will enable them to generationally pass their faith onto their children “like a disease of joy.” Devotion to the Holy Child is evident as the Santo Niño de Cebú statue was carried in procession during the jubilee and is often displayed in most Filipino homes.
To emphasize how Filipinos value family, Pope Francis had remarked in a private audience to Filipinos after a previous typhoon, “I like the way the Filipinos take care of their elderly. You keep them in your homes and you take care of them yourselves. You call them ‘lolo’ (or grandfather).” Additionally, the country celebrates an “Elderly Week” annually, and grandchildren traditionally mano po or show a gesture of respect. Even strangers are greeted with a familial sense, as any older peer has the title of “Ate” (female) or “Kuya” (male). This is why Pope Francis has been given the title “Lolo Kiko,” which means “Grandfather Francis.”
The pope talked about the Cross in the context of the Philippine disasters. There have been numerous calamities within the past few years: the earthquakes in Bohol and Cebu, Typhoon Haiyan, and Typhoon Hagupit, all in addition to COVID-19. In a message after one of the typhoons, Pope Francis encouraged the people to continue asking God the question of “why?” like children. It is a way of reaching out to God even if no answer is found. During the 500th Anniversary Mass, the pope urged them to continue “working, rebuilding, and helping each other,” thereby being witnesses of faith and charity in action in the face of tragedy.
He described the mystery of Pentecost as signifying the arrival of faith, and even more so, as the embodiment of new beginnings. With this, he said that the jubilee should be a renewal of the Filipinos’ enthusiasm and joy for the gift of evangelization and their Catholicism.
The jubilee concluded with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the former Archbishop of Manila, thanking Pope Francis on behalf of the people. “We sing, we smile, we laugh, we cry, and we eat,” the Filipino cardinal said. “We pray that … the beauty of the Church, and the … joy of God may reach the ends of the earth.” He ended with, “Here in Rome, when we miss our grandparents, we know we have a Lolo Kiko.”
Photo of Manila Cathedral courtesy of Wayne S. Grazio via Flickr
Lourdes Macaspac, graduate of the class of 2021, wrote for The Torch as a C101 writer during her first three years and as a Faith Feature Columnist during her senior year. At BC, she majored in a bunch of things, enjoyed giving her time to service, and cared greatly for her friends. Through the fleeting sweet and sometimes chaotic moments, she rediscovered the meaning of her life: sanctity.
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