ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Catholics in the Philippines use SMS messages to build chain of prayer across the country to sustain and comfort the Pope in hospitalL “the Holy Father has always shown deep affection for our people”

Manila (Fides Service) - Catholics in the Philippines are passing the word to build a chain of prayer to sustain the Pope in hospital. SMS messages, a popular means of communication in the Philippines, are serving to promote prayers in parishes and religious communities. Special prayers are being organised by church movements. Prayers for the Pope were also said during a ceremony in Manila 25 February to commemorate the non violent People’s Power revolution in 1986 which ousted general Marcos.
“We thank God for this Pope who is such a great leader and shepherd, a man of such charisma. He is a saintly man and has always shown deep affection for our people”, said participants at the commemoration. The Pope was also mentioned by civil authorities present at the event. It was recalled that Pope John Paul II visited Manila in 1981 and then again in 1995 to preside the Youth Day Mass at Rizal Park, Manila for more than 4 million people from all over the country. The youth day event gave great impulse to youth movements in the Philippines.
Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop emeritus of Manila, said he hoped the Pope would recover fully and quickly and encouraged the faithful to continue to pray for the Holy Father. The present Archbishop of Manila, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, in Rome to take part in the annual assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, celebrated Mass with special prayers for a large gathering of Filipinos at the church of Santa Pudenziana which is a meeting centre and national church for the Filipino community in Rome.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/02/2005 Righe: 16 Parole: 155)