The Catholic Church and the Philippine government marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Philippines with a solemn Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of the archdiocese of Manila on April 8, highlighting decades of “deep friendship, sincere closeness, and effective collaboration.”
The celebration was led by Archbishop Charles John Brown, the 12th Apostolic Nuncio to the country, who described the milestone as a moment of gratitude and renewed commitment to peace and dialogue.
In his homily, the papal envoy recalled that diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Holy See were formally established on April 8, 1951, during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII and the presidency of Elpidio Quirino.
“Our celebration this evening is a moment to express our gratitude to God for these 75 years, which have been marked by deep friendship, sincere closeness, and effective collaboration,” Archbishop Brown said.
He noted that the anniversary falls within the Easter season, emphasizing the Christian meaning of restored relationships through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“Christianity is all about relationship,” the nuncio explained, pointing to the Church’s mission of fostering communion not only with God but also with others.
Drawing from the teachings of Pope Francis, particularly his encyclical Laudato Si', Archbishop Brown highlighted that human life is grounded in three essential relationships: with God, with neighbor, and with creation.
He stressed that the restoration of humanity’s relationship with God through Christ, calls Christians to rebuild relationships with others, which also underpins the Church’s diplomatic mission.
“For Christians, the restored relations with God in Christ, call us, indeed impel us, to seek restored relations with all of humanity,” he said.
The nuncio traced the historical roots of papal diplomacy, from early Church emissaries to the establishment of formal diplomatic missions, noting that the Holy See has long played a role in fostering dialogue among nations.
Archbishop Brown also recalled the beginnings of formal diplomatic engagement with the Philippines following its independence in 1946, leading to the appointment of the first Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, in 1951.
He highlighted the enduring strengths of the Filipino people, faith, family values, and love of freedom, as key foundations of the bilateral relationship.
“These 75 years have witnessed so many inspiring examples of the innate virtue of the Filipino people, their deep religious faith, wonderful family traditions, and profound love for freedom,” he said.
The nuncio pointed to significant milestones in Church-state relations, including papal visits to the Philippines by Pope Paul VI in 1970, Pope John Paul II in 1981 and 1995, and Pope Francis in 2015.
He described diplomacy as “the grace of encounter,” emphasizing its mission to build and sustain relationships among nations and peoples.
As the Church and the Philippines commemorate 75 years of formal ties, Archbishop Brown expressed confidence in the future of the relationship, anchored in shared values and a common pursuit of peace.
“We thank God for these 75 years… and we look forward in confidence to the future,” he said.
The celebration concluded with a spirit of gratitude, as Church leaders, government representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps gathered to honor a partnership that continues to shape both faith and public life in the Philippines and beyond.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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