Question & AnswerQ&A (PROCLAMATION NO. 822)
The purpose of Proclamation No. 822 is to declare a period of national mourning over the passing away of Pope John Paul II in the Philippines.
The President declared the period of national mourning by virtue of the powers vested in her by law.
During the period of national mourning, flags of all government buildings and installations, both domestic and abroad, shall be flown at half-mast.
The period of national mourning is effective immediately from April 4, 2005, until the burial of Pope John Paul II.
The Proclamation highlights his canonization of Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, and his two pastoral visits to the Philippines, which fostered a special bond with the Filipino people.
He was the voice of goodness, social justice, and man’s freedom to love, consistently addressing poverty, suffering, and promoting forgiveness and unity across religious and racial divides.
The Proclamation notes that he was the first Pope to visit a Jewish synagogue, a Muslim mosque, and to seek forgiveness for past sins to bridge divides among generations and groups with different religious and political beliefs.
Manila was chosen by Pope John Paul II as the venue for the Fourth World Meeting of Families in 2003, the first such meeting held in Asia, indicating his personal concern for the country.
The Proclamation expresses the Filipino people's solidarity with the world in mourning, offering loving prayers for the eternal peace of Pope John Paul II.