Monday, June 30, 2008 Church to mark Pope's Day on Monday
ARCHBISHOP Edward Joseph Adams, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, will preside this year's Pope's Day Mass on Monday at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila.
Adams will celebrate the 5:30 p.m. mass with Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and other bishops and priests in the archdiocese of Manila.
The celebration of Pope's Day was started to intensify the Catholics' understanding of the church's teachings and to have full appreciation of the spiritual leadership of the Catholic Church's top leader and Vicar of Christ.
In addition to his spiritual role, the Pope is head of state of the independent sovereign state of the Vatican City, a city-state entirely enclaved by the city of Rome.
Aside from the Philippines, other countries also celebrate the Pope's Day in many ways.
Some started the celebration with mass for the intentions of the Holy Father. There are confessions, praying of the Holy Rosary and procession. The writings of the Holy Father are distributed in the streets. There also talks, forum, and video presentation honoring the great contribution of the Holy Father as successor of Saint Peter.
Adams was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on September 3, 2007. He arrived in the country on November 1.
He succeeded Archbishop Fernando Filoni who was appointed substitute (Sostituto) of the Vatican Secretariat of State in June 2007.
Prior to his appointment, Adams was the Holy See's ambassador to Zimbabwe for five years. (FP/Sunnex)
