‘2015 can be extraordinary’

MANILA, Philippines - The year 2015 will be remembered in history as the time when the “people’s pope” visited the Philippines.

This was the New Year’s message of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

“With the challenge to be apostles of mercy and compassion, the first visit of Pope Francis will surely become momentous days of grace for us Filipinos,” he added.

Villegas noted that while 2015 can be another regular year in our calendar, it can also be an extraordinary year.

“If we put much love into each day of this year; if we put much hope into every difficulty we encounter this year; if we share fearlessly with everyone our joyful faith in our loving God; this year may be ordinary but it will be specially memorable because of the love and faith and hope that we pour into the days of 2015,” he explained.

He also reminded the faithful that 2015 is also the “Year of the Poor” for the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

Moreover, 2015 is the fourth year in the nine-year novena for the Great Jubilee of 2021, the 500th anniversary of the first mass and first baptism in the Philippines.

Worldwide, 2015 is the “Year of Consecrated Life for the Catholic Church.”

Villegas said this is an invitation for Catholics to thank the Lord for the gift of religious men and women who have dedicated their lives to chastity, poverty and obedience.

Meanwhile, the papal visit social media team has posted in the papal visit website the five-minute video “Frequently Asked Questions” about the visit.

It was reiterated in the video that no tickets are issued, given away or sold by the papal visit organizers. It was also clarified that “all events may be witnessed by the public, although the meetings with the particular interest group like the youth, the religious and the families may be participated by the pre-selected representatives.”