MANILA — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle invited the faithful, especially devotees of Saint John Paul II to attend the Eucharistic Celebration and first public veneration of the saint’s vial of blood this weekend.
In a statement Monday, the head of the Archdiocese of Manila said the welcome Mass and the veneration will be held at the Manila Cathedral at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“This is the first ever blood relic of the great Pope still in liquid form stored in a glass container here in our country,” he said.
Tagle added that the relic was given by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, former secretary of the Pope, to the Manila Cathedral.
“Let us come together as we welcome home the presence of our beloved Pope John Paul II and receive the graces and miracles through his powerful intercession!” the cardinal said.
The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception has celebrated its 60th anniversary of the rebuilding of the Cathedral Post-War.
The late Pope visited the country twice, in February 1981 and for the World Youth Day celebration in January 1995.
In April 2014, he was declared saint by Pope Francis. (PNA)
