MANILA – Next week, the Philippines and the Holy See will celebrate 75 years of official diplomatic relations with a Mass at the Manila Cathedral, the Apostolic Nunciature said.
The event will honor decades of church-state cooperation in areas such as social justice, humanitarian aid, and the promotion of human dignity. “This milestone reinforces our shared commitment to nurturing faith, solidarity, and the welfare of our communities,” the nunciature added.
Diplomatic ties were formally established on April 8, 1951, when the Apostolic Delegation, present in the Philippines since 1899, was elevated to the status of Apostolic Nunciature. This conferred full diplomatic status to the pope’s representative, who also became dean of the diplomatic corps.
The Philippines has hosted four papal visits, starting with Pope Paul VI in 1970, the first by a pope in Southeast Asia. Pope John Paul II visited in 1981 for the beatification of the country’s first saint, Lorenzo Ruiz, and again in 1995 for World Youth Day, which drew record-breaking crowds. Pope Francis visited in 2015 to meet survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, attracting massive attendance.
The canonization of Paul VI and John Paul II has further deepened the historical significance of their visits. Since the establishment of the nunciature, 12 apostolic nuncios have contributed to the pastoral and social engagement of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, reflecting the Vatican’s enduring commitment to the Filipino faithful.
ia/xf
