Special live coverage of canonization on GMA-7

CEBU, Philippines - From his inspiring first visit to the country to beatify Saint Lorenzo Ruiz in 1981, to the record-breaking attendance of the World Youth Day in Manila in 1995 up to his beatification in 2011, Blessed John Paul II has been evidently closer to the hearts of Filipinos than any other Pope.  And with his canonization today, Filipinos are anticipating this historic religious event. Entering the roll of saints with Blessed John Paull II is Blessed John XXIII, the pope who led massive reforms in the Catholic Church through the establishment of the Second Vatican Council.

GMA News and Public Affairs – the country’s only broadcast news organization to win the coveted Peabody Award four times – delivers the most comprehensive coverage of the first-ever joint papal canonization in history— that of Blessed Pope John Paul II and Blessed Pope John XXIII.

Leading the special coverage “Saint John Paul II: We Love You” live from Rome are GMA News pillars Mel Tiangco and Jessica Soho, together with Mariz Umali, Jiggy Manicad, and Raffy Tima.

Arnold Clavio and Vicky Morales anchor the GMA News TV special coverage airing at 3:30 p.m. Providing historical and theological insights are panelists Fr. Francis Lucas of Catholic Media Network and Fr. Jose Quilongquilong, S.J. of the Loyola School of Theology.

The declaration of papal sainthood will also be presented in the GMA special bulletin anchored by Jun Veneracion.

GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” and “Balitanghali Weekend” on GMA News TV will provide viewers with the latest situation on the twin canonization via live reports from the GMA News team at St. Peter’s Square.

Known as the Beloved, Blessed Pope John Paul II led the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005.

Blessed Pope John XXIII, on the other hand, was the pontiff from 1958 to 1963. He was known as an innovator of the church and was responsible for convening the Second Vatican Council in 1962 that transformed the papacy and renewed the Catholic faith. The Good Pope John also played a significant role in fostering peace amid the tension in Berlin in 1961, the Algerian revolt, and the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.

GMA-7 was the official TV network during the World Youth Day in Manila in 1995. GMA-7 also had an extensive coverage of Pope John Paul II’s beatification on May 1, 2011.

Bringing in the latest reports on the canonization, both Mel Tiangco and Jessica Soho anchor primetime news programs live from the Vatican.  Last Friday, April 25, Soho anchored “24 Oras” on GMA-7 and “State of the Nation with Jessica Soho” on GMA News TV while on Monday, April 28, Tiangco anchors “24 Oras.”

Viewers can get additional updates through GMA News’ social media accounts in Facebook and Twitter with hashtag #2popesaints.  YouScoop also encourages YouScoopers to send their photos  and stories about Pope John Paul 2.  Netizens can also watch this historic event through live streaming on GMA News online. (PR)