Relics of Blessed John XXIII to go on PHL tour too

Starting this weekend, Filipino Catholics will get a chance to venerate the relics of Blessed John XXIII, who will be canonized along with Blessed John Paul II on Sunday.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said a religious group has organized a nationwide tour of John XXIII's relics from April 25 to May 31.

“While it is common knowledge that we Filipinos have a bias towards Pope John Paul II, who will also be canonized with him, as Catholics it is just as well that we learn as much as we can about the life and legacy of John XXIII,” event coordinator Brother Dave Dela Cruz said in an article posted Friday evening on the CBCP news site.

John XXIII is not as popular as John Paul II in the Philippines. John Paul II got a warm welcome from Filipinos when he visited the Philippines in 1981 and 1995.

Still, John XXIII is considered “The Good Pope” as he is credited for “opening up the Church to the modern world.”

John XXIII also allowed for greater participation of the laity in the affairs of the Church, making the Church what it is now. “He is a giant in his own right,” dela Cruz said.

On Friday, the relics of both candidates for sainthood were brought to the GMA Network Center in Quezon City.

Dela Cruz said John XXIII’s relics arrived in the country from Rome Wednesday night, just in time for the double canonization on April 27.

“One aim of this relic viewing is to enable Filipino Catholics to feel the holy presence of John XXIII. Let’s face it: We can’t afford to personally go to the Vatican for the canonization, that’s why through the Totus Tuus Tour we more or less brought the pope to be canonized to our countrymen,” he said.

The CBCP said John XXIII's relics in the tour include a piece of the funeral cassock which the Pope was wearing when he was buried in 1963.

"But it is doubly special because the cloth is drenched in the pontiff’s bodily fluids, making it a first-class relic," the CBCP added.

It also said the faithful can see one of the commemorative medals John XXIII gave as a souvenir to the participants of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II).

The CBCP said the Totus Tuus Tour schedule is as follows:

• May 9 to 12: St. Joseph Parish in Upper Bicutan, Taguig City
• May 13 to 16: Holy Cross Parish in Matingain, Lemery, Batangas
• May 17 to 18: Holy Family Parish in Kamias, Quezon City
• May 23 to 25: Santuario de San José in Greenhills, Mandaluyong City
• May 26 to 30: Santa María de la Cabeza Mission Station in Barangay Mangoso, Sigma, Capiz
• May 31 to June 1: St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Concepcion Dos, Marikina City