The relic of St. Pope John Paul II is being exposed for public veneration until Oct. 22, his feast day, at the Radio Veritas Chapel (Veritas Tower, 162 West Ave. and Edsa, Quezon City; tel. 9257932-39, local 129).

 

Karol Wojtyla, the Christian name of the saint, became pope in 1978, the first non-Italian pontiff in more than 400 years. He helped end communism in Europe and Russia and was the most traveled pope in history, visiting 129 countries. He visited the Philippines twice—in February 1981, when he beatified the first Filipino saint, Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and Companion Martyrs, in the first beatification outside of Europe in history, and in January 1995, when some 4 million Filipinos attended the Mass he celebrated at the close of World Youth Day, the largest single gathering of people in Christian history.

 

Typhoon-struck Batanes

 

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines through the National Secretariat for Social Action (Nassa) and Caritas Philippines launched a solidarity appeal to all the 85 dioceses nationwide to help the families affected by the recent strong typhoons which hit Batanes.

 

Batanes Bishop Camilo D. Gregorio has particularly appealed for the rehabilitation of at least two schools and five churches which were heavily damaged by the typhoon.

 

Typhoon Ferdie (Meranti) affected 4,588 families and damaged more than 2,000 houses.

 

Donations can be made to Bank of the Philippine Islands, Intramuros, Manila; account name: CBCP Caritas Filipinas Foundation, Inc. Nassa; account number: 4951-0071-08.

 

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