Grand welcome awaits Pope.

Manila, Philippines, October 23, 2014 - Pope Francis, head of the Worldwide Roman Catholic Church and Vatican City State, arrives today from Rome, Italy for a five-day pastoral and state visit aimed at strengthening the Filipino people's Christian faith and improving relations between the Church and the Aquino Government.

President Benigno Aquino III, during his regular press briefing, said he will discuss with the Pope key issues affecting Church-Government relations, including the Charter change, the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement, the tension against China over the Scarborough Shoal, the Development Acceleration Program (DAP) and Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the rehabilitation after the Zamboanga siege to the onslaught Yolanda caused in Visayas and the recent typhoon “Glenda” in Luzon last July, the P316-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds scam, P6.6 billion housing scam of Delfin Lee's Globe Asiatique (GA), P728 million fertilizer fund scam, the construction of major infrastructure projects, the crime rate in Metro Manila including robbery holdups, the high-profile killings: the killing of champion race car driver Enzo Pastor in Quezon City, Metro Manila and Crown Regency Hotel owner Richard King in Davao City, Davao del Sur last June 12, the gang rape and killing of 26-year-old Anria Galang Espiritu in Calumpit, Bulacan last August 18 and 7-year-old Myla Rosales in Barangay 845, Pandacan, Manila last September 6, the onslaught of typhoon Glenda, the 100 million population mark, the legal issues in DOTC such as: the rehabilitation of MRT-3, the awarding of the LRT-1 south extension project and P1.4-billion common station legal fiasco.

Mr. Aquino also assured that the Pope will be well-secured during his entire visit. Some 20,000 security personnel from various law enforcement agencies have mobilized for the visit.

The President said his talks with the Pontiff will very brief. But, Mr. Aquino hinted that the talks will ensure improvement relations between the Church and the Government.

Some 1,500 people will also be on hand to welcome the Pope. Upon the Pope's arrival, the President will deliver his welcome remarks, after which the Pontiff will deliver a message to the Filipino People.

Tomorrow, the Holy Father will make a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III at Malacanang's Music Room, to be followed by a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders. A Private audience with the First Family follows.

On Saturday, October 25, the Holy Father will officiate at the Celebration of The Holy Eucharist at the Philippine International Convention Center in celebration of the 420th Anniversary of the Elevation of Manila as a Metropolitan See and the Creation of Episcopal Sees of Cebu, Nueva Caceres and Nueva Segovia. He will then proceed to the Arzobispado de Manila for a Private Lunch with the Members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

At 4:30 P.M., the Holy Father will attend the Sapphire Jubilee annual founding anniversary celebration of Radio Veritas Asia and 36th Catholic Mass Media Awards at the Philippine International Convention Center Plenary Hall. He will then proceed to Luneta to attend the Vigil.

On Sunday, October 26, Pope Francis will celebrate Holy Mass at 6:45 P.M. at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta for the 36^th Anniversary Celebraton of annual founding anniversary celebration of evangelical Christian and Roman Catholic charismatic renewal religious group and movement Jesus is Lord Church.

This will be followed by a meeting with the members of the Federation of Asian Bishop Conference at the San Carlos Seminary Auditorium in Makati City.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

• 3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. – Opening Program
• 4:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. – Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide Worship and Healing Services by Bishop Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva, Founder, International President and Spiritual Director of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide
• 6:30 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. – Overnight Vigil with the Pope

Sunday, October 26, 2014

• 7:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. - Gospel Music and Life Testimonies 
• 11:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. - Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide Founder, International President and Spiritual Director Bishop Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva's 81st Birthday Thank-Offering Salo-Salo 
• 2:30 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. - El Shaddai Gospel Music Ministry Choir 
• 3:00 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. - Helicopter Dropping of Miracle-Vision Handkerchiefs 
• 3:30 P.M. - 3:35 P.M. - Thanksgiving Prayer for the Birthday Celebration of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide Founder, President and Spiritual Director Bishop Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva and Anniversary Celebration of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide to be led by Bro. Mike Z. Velarde, Founder and Servant-Leader of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Fellowship Foundation International, Inc. Roman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Religious Movement and release of Miracle-Vision Balloons 
• 3:35 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. - El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, Inc. Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines Gospel Music Ministry Choir 
• 4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. - Message: Greetings, Special Sharing headed by His Excellency Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay, Sr. and other Special Guests 
• 5:00 P.M. - 5:05 P.M. - Introduction of Guest of Honor: Bro. Mike Z. Velarde, Founder and Servant-Leader of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, Inc. Roman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Religious Movement 
• 5:05 P.M. - 5:30 P.M. - Special Message: His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III
• 5:30 P.M. - 5:32 P.M. - Special Song: "Hindi Kita Malilimutan" 
• 5:32 P.M. - 6:10 P.M. - Talk - Holy Spirit: Building Community by Bro. Bo Sanchez, Chairman and Presiding Elder, Light of Jesus Community 
• 6:10 P.M. - 6:20 P.M. - Angelus, Lord's Prayer and Psalm 91 
• 7:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. - Arrival of the Pilgrim Image of San Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park 
• 7:30 P.M. - 7:45 P.M. - Arrival of Pope Francis from riding of Helicopter from the Helipad of Malacanang Park to the Back of Quirino Grandstand 
• 7:45 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. - Joyful Worship in preparation for the Eucharistic Celebration: El Shaddai Gospel Music Ministry Manila Choir 
• 8:00 P.M. - 11:30 P.M. - Eucharistic Celebration officiated by Pope Francis, as Main Celebrant, Bishop of Rome and Leader of Worldwide Roman Catholic Church, and other Roman Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, Deacons, Monsignors, Pastors, Priests Con-celebrating (Offertory: Villanueva Family) 
• Prayers of the Faithful - Various Guests 
• Celebration of Sacrament of Matrimony
• Message: Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See to the Philippines 
• Angelus Message 
• Angelus Domini Prayer 
• Farewell Message by the Pope 
• Final Blessing
• Message: His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III 
• 11:30 P.M. - 12:00 A.M. - Special Anniversary Message by Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., Bishop-Emeritus, Diocese of Novaliches and Over-all Spiritual Director of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, Inc.

President Aquino and His Family, together with other government and church leaders, will sent off the Pope on the Morning of October 28 at the Old Manila International Airport. The Pope will fly on to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea for the continuation of his four-nation Asian tour.

The Pontiff's five-day visit is actually a fulfillment of a promise he made early last year when he assumed as pope on March 13, 2013 and he planned by announcing he will be in Manila in October.