MANILA (UCAN): Catholics in the Philippines remembered Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for giving them a second Filipino saint and for his “courageous battle” against the relativism that permeates society.
Speaking at an event held on January 2 that was attended by state dignitaries, Father Ari Sison from Manila, recalled, “Despite not visiting the Philippines, Benedict XVI left a mark on the country. Besides canonising St. Pedro Calungsod, he elevated Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to the College of Cardinals in 2012. We will never forget him for these two great contributions,” CNN Philippines reported.
Benedict XVI canonised the lay catechist, Pedro Calungsod, on 21 October 2012, in St. Peter’s Square.
Father Sison also remembered Benedict XVI’s simplicity during his student days in Rome.
“I met Pope Benedict XVI before he became pope. I was a student in Rome and I met him on the bus. I spoke to him in Italian and I offered my seat. He just nodded and gave me a smile. There I realised how simple he was,” the priest added.
“Here in the Archdiocese of Manila, we gratefully remember him for appointing my predecessor, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as our Archbishop. He also elevated Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales to the College of Cardinals; they were both excellent pastors who served well in our local Church,” Jose Cardinal Advincula, archbishop of Manila, said in his message.
Cardinal Advincula further recalled the late pope’s “courageous battle” with the relativism that permeates the Philippine society today.
“More importantly, we remember him for courageously witnessing to the gospel in our modern world marred by fractures and skepticism. He prophetically warned us against the ‘dictatorship of relativism’, from which our post-truth world is now suffering,” Cardinal Advincula added.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines thanked all the Catholic faithful who prayed for the late pope before his death on 31 December 2022.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
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“I wish to thank all of you who accompanied him in prayer and offered special Mass intentions for his peaceful passage into eternal life. We will fondly remember him, especially those among us bishops, who had been appointed by him to the episcopal ministry. [It was Pope Benedict XVI who appointed me bishop in July 2006],” CBCP president, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, wrote in his message.
Bishop David likewise called Benedict the “Pope of Charity” based on his encyclical Deus Caritas Est [God is Love].
“Among the many charisms God had bestowed on him, he will be especially remembered as a great theologian, catechist, and musician. He spent the last years of his life as an emeritus pope in solitude and contemplation, supporting the Universal Church and Pope Francis spiritually with his prayers,” Bishop David added.
Manila Cathedral had opened a chapel where Catholics could offer prayers for the late pope, while the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan celebrated a requiem Mass on January 3 to pay its last respects.
