'Itinerary' of Pope Francis' Apostolic Visit to the Philippines

The government has already declared Jan 15, 16 and 19 as holidays for the upcoming Papal visit.

His Holiness Pope Francis is set to deliver his message of mercy and compassion to 11 different venues in the province of Leyte and Metro Manila during his Apostolic Visit to the Philippines on January 15-19, 2015.

Pope Francis is expected to arrive in Manila from Sri Lanka, the first leg of his Asian trip, by plane past 5 p.m. on January 15, and will go on a motorcade to his official residence in the Philippines. The following morning, January 16, Pope Francis will be officially welcomed by the president, Benigno S. Aquino III, at Malacañan Palace in Manila. The Pope will also meet Philippine authorities and members of the diplomatic corps.

After the Palace reception, Pope Francis will go on another motorcade to the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral) in Intramuros for a Mass with bishops, priests, and women and men religious. Later, he will have an encounter with families at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

In Leyte Province in Eastern Visayas, Pope Francis will visit the Archdiocese of Palo. He will offer Mass near Tacloban Airport in the morning of January 17 and will have lunch with the poor and survivors of natural calamities at the residence of the Archbishop of Palo. Afterwards he will bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor in Palo, and visit the Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration (Palo Cathedral) to meet with priests and women and men religious.

On January 18, the Pope will meet religious leaders and young people at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila. In the afternoon, he will go on a motorcade for the Concluding Mass at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal (Luneta) Park.

Pope Francis will leave for Rome on January 19.

APOSTOLIC TRIP OF HIS HOLINESS, POPE FRANCIS, TO THE PHILIPPINES

15-19 JANUARY 2015

Thursday 15 January 2015
17:45	Arrival at Villamor Air Base in Manila
	OFFICIAL WELCOME
Friday 16 January 2015
9:15	WELCOME CEREMONY at the Malacañan Palace
	COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT
10:15	MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES and the DIPLOMATIC CORPS at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Presidential Palace
11:15	HOLY MASS with the bishops, priests, women and men religious at the Cathedral – Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Manila
17:30	MEETING with the FAMILIES at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila
Saturday 17 January 2015
8:15	Departure by plane from Manila for Tacloban
9:30	Arrival at the airport of Tacloban
10:00	HOLY MASS near Tacloban International Airport
12:45	Lunch with some of the survivors of typhoon Yolanda at theArchbishop’s Residence in Palo
15:00	Blessing of the Pope Francis Center for the Poor
15:30	MEETING with the Priests, Women and Men Religious, Seminarians and Families of the Survivors at the Cathedral of Palo
17:00	Departure by plane for Manila
18:15	Arrival at Villamor Air Base in Manila
Sunday 18 January 2015
9:45	Brief Meeting with the Religious Leaders of the Philippines at thePontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila
10:30	MEETING WITH THE YOUTH at the Sports Field of the University
15:30	HOLY MASS at Rizal Park in Manila
Monday 19 January 2015
9:45	Leave Taking Ceremony at the Presidential Pavilion of Villamor Air Base in Manila
10:00	Departure by plane from Manila for Rome
17:40	Arrival at the airport of Rome/Ciampino