MANILA — Pope Francis congratulated President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ahead of his inauguration as the 17th leader of the Philippines on Thursday.
The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Bishop Charles John Brown, shared the pontiff’s message on Wednesday during the Pope’s Day Mass at the Manila Cathedral to celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
In his message, Pope Francis assured Marcos of prayers and blessings not only for him, but also for the Filipino people.
“I send my congratulations and cordial good wishes to Your Excellency as you begin your term as President of the Republic,” the pope said.
“Assuring you of my prayers that you will be sustained in wisdom and strength, I invoke Almighty God’s blessing of peace and prosperity upon the nation.”
Brown, who as papal nuncio to the Philippines is also the dean of the diplomatic corps, also shared that he assured Marcos of the support of the Catholic Church during his courtesy visit.
“As I mentioned to the President-elect during my courtesy visit on June 10, he can be sure of the collaboration and support of the Catholic Church and the Holy See as he assumes the heavy responsibilities of his charge.”
Marcos, who won a landslide victory with more than 30 million votes, will be sworn in Thursday noon at the National Museum in Manila.
Brown along with other foreign dignitaries are expected to attend the event.
Marcos is the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who ruled the country for more than two decades until he was ousted by the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986.
The Catholic Church in the Philippines was considered one of the key figures of resistance under the regime of Marcos Sr.
The late Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, helped rally thousands to flock to EDSA and join the revolt.
The relationship between the Catholic Church and Malacañang turned sour during the tenure of Marcos Jr.’s immediate predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
Several members of the Catholic hierarchy in the Philippines have been highly critical of some of Duterte’s policies, chief among them the brutal war on drugs that saw thousands of suspected drug addicts and peddlers killed in cold blood.
Duterte, in turn, denounced bishops and priests and called the Catholic Church the most hypocritical institution.
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