January 30, 1995

The POPE came to be with us for five short days in January.

I saw how much you put everything at the disposal of the Church to make that visit the phenomenal event it is now called. I know how unselfishly you gave yourselves to preparing our parishioners spiritually to receive the blessings of the Vicar of Christ. I know how you put all your fund raising skills at the service of the universal Church, to gather funds to support those young people who cannot afford to travel to Manila to be with the Pope. I know how all our parishes opened wide their hearts and the doors of the parishioners’ homes to accomodate the weary pilgrims. I know you willingly attended meetings to thresh out problems that may arise in the course of this Church event.

I am proud of the clergy of Manila.

I am proud of the religious men and women of this Archdiocese.

The grace of God was given to us for the papal visit. We all know that those graces could have been rendered useless if the spiritual leaders and servants of this particular Church did not give their full hearts to the undertaking.

I thank the catechetical and retreat teams that went all over the archdiocese bringing the teachings and blessings of Christ to the unchurched. Your efforts are rewarded. We are now seeing the renewal of the faith-life of the people. The seeds of this renewal were planted by you. I thank God for you.

I thank the parish priests and directors of schools who hosted the delegates, allowing the church facilities to be used as housing or catechetical sites. It was Christ whom you welcomed. It was Christ who was loved. He Himself will be your overflowing reward.

I thank the priests who helped in the district task forces of the WORLD YOUTH DAY, the priests who formed the central coordinating secretariat insuring that matters were attended to with diligent attention. Congratulations for the phenomenal event.

I also thank the priests who generously responded to my appeal to hear confessions in the catechetical sites and the liturgical celebrations. Giving the faithful the opportunity to encounter our Lord in that grace-filled sacrament of reconciliation was a sign of our determination and goodwill towards the renewal of our country in the spirit of Christ.

Please thank our parishioners for me, our foot soldiers.

They gave their best, they showed their best, they shared their very best, I cannot ask for more!

The Pope came to be with us. He has chosen to stay with us. His message we must live day-to-day. His love for the Church we must nurture more and more in our hearts.

No, the Pope did not leave Manila. He has chosen to stay with us. His message will live forever in our hearts.

Let me close by quoting the personal message of gratitude that His Holiness himself sent us as soon as he landed in Rome.

(Quote)

CARDINAL SIN

Arzobispado, Intramuros, Manila

RETURNING TO ROME AFTER MY VISIT TO ASIA

AND OCEANIA AND WITH VIVID MEMORIES OF

THE WORLD YOUTH DAY AND THE FOUR

HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF MANILA, CEBU,

CACERES AND NUEVA SEGOVIA, I EXPRESS MY

DEEP APPRECIATION TO THE BISHOPS OF THE

PHILIPPINES AND MY SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU

AND TO ALL WHO WORKED FOR THE REMARK-

ABLE SUCCESS OF THESE EVENTS. I OFFER

FERVENT PRAYERS THAT THE CHURCH IN THE

PHILIPPINES WILL REAP ABUNDANT FRUITS OF

SPIRITUAL RENEWAL FROM THE WITNESS OF

CHRIST THE LORD BORNE BY SO MANY YOUNG

PEOPLE AND FROM THE PARTICIPATION OF SO

MANY FILIPINO PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND LAITY

IN THE VARIOUS CELEBRATIONS. WITH

GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU I CORDIALLY

IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING.

JOANNES PAULUS PP. II (Unquote)

My dear brothers in the priesthood, let us keep the blessings of the papal visit glowing, let us keep our love growing.

(Sgd.) + JAIME L. CARDINAL SIN, D.D.

Archbishop of Manila

Villa San Miguel

January 30, 1995