Pope Leo XIV called on Filipino bishops over the weekend to be bold in defending peace and human dignity.
“Be courageous in supporting the cause of peace and in promoting the intrinsic dignity of all people,” the pontiff said in his first message to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), as he offered prayers for the success of their plenary assembly in Bohol.
His message, conveyed through Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was read on Saturday (July 5) by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown.
The pope encouraged the bishops to draw inspiration from the ongoing Jubilee year, which he described as a moment to renew faith in God’s love and salvation.
Meanwhile, Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera was elected as the new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) during the first day of the bishops’ 130th plenary assembly in Anda, Bohol on Saturday.
He will succeed the Diocese of Kalookan’s Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David on Dec. 1.
Garcera has been head of the Archdiocese of Lipa in Batangas province since 2017. He is also currently the CBCP Permanent Council’s regional representative for Southeast Luzon.
CBCP officials serve two-year terms and may be reelected once, for a maximum of four years.
Garcera was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Caceres in Naga City, Camarines Sur in 1983. In 2007, he was appointed bishop of Daet in the same province, then transferred to Lipa City.
Archbishop Julius Tonel, head of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, was elected vice president.
The 68-year-old bishop will succeed Pasig’s Mylo Hubert Vergara, who is also on his second and final term.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Pope Leo urges Filipino bishops to champion peace, human dignity”
