MANILA, Philippines – The blood relic of Saint John Paul II is set to be shown again at the Manila Cathedral from Friday to Sunday, May 18 to 20, to mark the birthday of the late pontiff.

The second public exposition and veneration of this blood relic begins on Friday as it is the 98th birthday of John Paul II.

“Let us once again come together and receive God’s grace through the intercession of our beloved St John Paul II,” the Manila Cathedral said on its Facebook page.

Father Reginald Malicdem, rector of the Manila Cathedral, said that a Mass for Family and Life will be held on Saturday at 8 am, ahead of the public exposition of the relic on that day.

Malicdem released the following schedule of the public exposition over the weekend:

Friday, May 18 – 6 am to 8 pm
Saturday, May 19 – 9 am to 8 pm
Sunday, May 20 – 6 am to 8 pm 

The blood relic of John Paul II was first shown at the Manila Cathedral from April 7 to 8.

“Pope John Paul II came to us. He opened his heart. The Philippines is always welcome in his heart. Now we welcome him again – the relic of blood. Blood. Life. The life connection continues, but it is life in Christ,” Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said in his homily on April 7. 

“With Saint Pope John Paul II, let us be witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth,” Tagle said. – Rappler.com