TIM eMagazine Vol.3 Issue 1
"We aim to capitalize on our
unique Catholic festivals and
Filipino traditions to pursue
more Catholic pilgrims or faith
tourists from Brazil, Mexico,
United States, Columbia and
Spain among others," Teo added.
According to the 2017
Annuario Pontificio, or
Pontifical Yearbook, and the
Vatican Statistical Yearbook,
eight out of ten Filipinos
are Catholics accounting for
82,212,678 believers in 2015.
The Philippines is also ranked
as third country in the world
with most Catholics following
Brazil and Mexico. It remains the
largest Catholic nation in Asia.
The number of Catholics
around the world is projected
to grow by an estimated 500
million by 2050 led by Latin
America with a significant boost
in developing countries in Sub-
Saharan Africa.
The rise of spiritual tourism
in the Philippines is anchored on
the diversity and richness of the
Martir sa Golgota, a contemporary
musical interpretation of the
Senakulo based on the life and
passion of Jesus Christ was
performed by the Tanghalang Sta.
Ana in front of the Palacio del
Gobernador.
churches and religious sites
open to the public.
Around 72 dioceses in 16
ecclesiastical provinces as well
as seven apostolic vicariantes
and practically a church in
every town or village presents
a wide selection for Catholic
devotees.
"We will also highlight the
numerous papal visits in the
country with the head of the
Catholic church as the focal
influencer of pilgrimage and
faith tourism," Teo stressed.
Pope Paul VI visited the
Philippines in 1970 while Pope
John Paul II came in 1981 and
1995. In January 2015, the
country made history for the
world’s largest papal mass
during the visit of Pope Francis
with an estimated crowd of six
million.
tourism.gov.ph
An estimated crowd of one
million visited Intramuros
during the week-long
Lenten celebration
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