(Source: papalvisit.ph) – His Holiness Pope Francis will bring his message of “mercy and compassion” to 11 different venues in 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 residence. The following morning, January 16, Pope Francis will be officially welcomed by President Benigno S. Aquino III at Malacañan Palace on J. P. Laurel Street in Manila. The Pope will also meet Philippine authorities and members of the diplomatic corps.
After the Palace reception, Pope Francis will go on a 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.
The official itinerary is as follows:
January 15, 2015
Arrival from Sri Lanka – Villamor Air Base (5:45 p.m.)
Motorcade to official residence
January 16, 2015
Welcome Ceremony – Malacañan Palace, Manila (9:15 a.m.)
Courtesy Visit to the President
Meeting with Authorities and the Diplomatic Corps (10:15 a.m.)
Motorcade to the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral)
Holy Mass with Bishops, Priests, and Women and Men Religious – Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral) (11:15 a.m.)
Motorcade to the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
Meeting with the Families – Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay (5:30 p.m.)
January 17, 2015
Departure for the Archdiocese of Palo – Villamor Air Base (8:15 a.m.)
Arrival at Tacloban Airport (9:30 a.m.)
Holy Mass near Tacloban Airport (10:00 a.m.)
Lunch with the Poor and Survivors of Calamities at Gonzagahaus (Residence of the Archbishop of Palo) – Palo, Leyte (12:45 p.m.)
Blessing of the Pope Francis Center for the Poor – Palo, Leyte (3:00 p.m.)
Meeting with the Priests and Women and Men Religious at Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration (Palo Cathedral) – Palo, Leyte (3:30 p.m.)
Departure for Manila (5:00 p.m.)
Arrival at Manila – Villamor Air Base (6:15 p.m.)
January 18, 2015
Brief Meeting with Religious Leaders – Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila (9:45 a.m.)
Meeting with the Youth – Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila (10:30 a.m.)
Motorcade to Rizal Park, Manila
Concluding Mass, Rizal Park, Manila (3:30 p.m.)
January 19, 2015
Motorcade from official residence
Leave-taking ceremony at Villamor Air Base (9:45 a.m.)
Departure for Rome – Villamor Air Base (10:00 a.m.)
Arrival at the airport of Rome/Ciampino (5:40 p.m.)
