75 Years of Relations Between the Philippines and the Holy See

Homily of H.E. Most Rev. Charles John Brown D.D., Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines

April 08, 2026 | Eucharistic Celebration on the Occasion of the

75th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations between the Holy See and the Philippines

Your Eminence Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila; Your Eminences, the Cardinals of the Philippines; dear colleagues, the ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps; Your Excellency, Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), and other concelebrating bishops; representatives of the government, especially the Department of Foreign Affairs; distinguished members of the clergy, consecrated life and laity, dear friends of the Apostolic Nunciature:

It is a real joy and a distinct privilege for me as the Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines, to welcome all of you here gathered this evening in this immensely beautiful and historic cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception, to celebrate this important milestone: the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Republic of the Philippines and the Holy See, which took place on this very day in 1951, during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, and the presidency of Elpidio Quirino.

Our celebration this evening is a moment to express our gratitude to God, for these 75 years, which have been marked by deep friendship, sincere closeness, and effective collaboration. It is indeed providential that in these very days of Easter, when Christians celebrate the restoration of relations between God and the human race, brought about by the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, that we celebrate and commemorate these 75 years of relations between the Philippines and the Holy See.

Relationships with God and Our Neighbour

Christianity is all about relationships. Indeed, in Christian doctrine, God himself, in His absolute reality, is understood as a relationship: the Holy and Undivided Trinity. As far as the human mind, enlightened by revelation, can grasp it, exists as a relationship of Three Persons in One Nature, One Being. The Christian notion of relationship is not confined to God Himself in His inner nature, but to all of reality. As Pope Francis wrote in his encyclical letter Laudato Si, “human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbour and with the earth itself” (LS #66).

The first of these relationships, our relationship with God, has been repaired and transformed by the mysteries we celebrated last week, and continue to celebrate this week: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of God-made-man, Jesus Christ. Our celebration this evening, however, focuses our attention on the second of these relationships, mentioned by Pope Francis—our relationship with our neighbor.

In the Gospels, especially in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus teaches us that every human being is our neighbor. In our first reading (Acts 3:1-10), this evening, Saint Peter heals a crippled man in Jerusalem, looking intently at him, and seeing and recognizing in him, truly a neighbor in need of healing. For Christians then, the restored relations with God in Christ which we experience, call us, indeed, impel us to seek restored relations with all of humanity. That indeed was the source of the Church's missionary impulse.

Diplomatic Relations

Saint Peter, who was mentioned in both readings this evening, the first reading and the Gospel (Luke 24:13-35), went to Rome, where he was martyred. Other apostles went to what is now Türkiye and to India. It was from Rome that Saint Peter's successors, the popes, began to send diplomatic emissaries throughout the world. Precisely to create and maintain relationships. In the first millennium, the first 1,000 years of Church history, the pope sent envoys to the imperial court in Constantinople. These emissaries, in a certain sense, were the first nuncios.

Later in the second millennium, it was the Holy See that hosted the first permanent embassy in history of one state to another—the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain to the Holy See, which dates from 1480, and which still exists today in the square named for it in Rome, which many of you have visited, the Piazza di Spagna.

The Holy See and the Philippines

Here in the Philippines, when the nation ceased to be under Spanish control in 1898, the Holy See began to send a series of representatives to Manila; but these representatives, who were called “apostolic delegates”, did not have diplomatic status, as the Philippines was not yet a fully sovereign state.

In 1946 however, when the Philippines achieved sovereignty, the process began, which resulted in the establishment of diplomatic relations with other nations in the world, and with the Holy See, which took place, as I've said, on this day, April 8, 1951. It was followed by the appointment just 24 hours later, of the First Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, His Excellency, †Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi. On the Philippine side, His Excellency, Manuel V. Moran, who was then Philippine ambassador to Spain, was appointed as the First Philippine ambassador to the Holy See.

A couple months later, on June 21 of that year, the new nuncio presented his letters of credence to President Quirino in Malacañang Palace. In his speech that day, Archbishop Vagnozzi expressed, and I quote, 

“[I express my] utmost confidence in the future of this archipelago. Knowing, as I do, the innate virtue of the Filipino people: their religious faith, their wonderful family traditions, their profound love for the freedom and independence of their country. I feel sure that with the help of God, this young Republic will overcome its internal difficulties. Difficulties which today confront more or less all the nations of the world, great and small, old and young.”

The nuncio's words were well chosen, and they remain true today. These 75 years have witnessed so many inspiring examples of the innate virtue of the Filipino people: their deep religious faith, wonderful family traditions, and profound love for the freedom and independence of the nation. The Holy See continues to support the Philippines in these crucial areas of national life.

The Pope and the Philippines

On the level of our diplomatic relations, these 75 years have indeed been most fruitful. We remember this evening, the four historic visits of the popes to the Philippines: Pope Saint Paul VI, in 1970, Pope Saint John Paul II in 1981 in 1995, and most recently, Pope Francis in 2015.

Pope Paul VI in Manila in 1970 (upper left); Pope John Paul II in Philippines in 1981 (upper right), and in 1995 (lower left); and Pope Francis in 2015 (lower right).

We think of the many presidents of the Philippines who have made official visits to the Holy Father in Rome. We remember with particular gratitude this evening the attendance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos at the Funeral Mass of Pope Francis, almost one year ago at this time. As President Marcos said on that occasion, his attendance at the funeral of Pope Francis was, and I quote the President, “a gesture of deep respect—from one of the world’s most faithful nations, to a Pope who touched the hearts of millions.” 

So, this evening, we thank God for these 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations; and we look forward in confidence to the future. Internationally, however, we cannot ignore the fact that our present moment in history is marked unfortunately by war and violence.

In that context, permit me in closing to re-echo the call of Pope Leo XIV for a diplomacy that promotes dialogue, that builds relationships, that seeks consensus, a diplomacy, in short, that works for peace. As the Holy Father said three days ago on Easter Sunday in Rome, and I quote him,

“Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!” (Urbi Et Orbi" Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. Easter 2026. Sunday, 5 April 2026)

Diplomacy, my brothers and sisters, is truly the grace of encounter: creating and sustaining relationships. That is what we celebrate with profound gratitude in our hearts this evening, the gift and the grace of 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations between the Holy See and the Republic of the Philippines.

We say “Deo gratias” (Thanks be to God)!

Transcribed by Joel V. Ocampo