Archbishop Capalla, a man of peace and dialogue in Davao, has died

He led the Church in Davao from 1996 until 2012. Archbishop Paul Cuison remembers him as "our man of peace, instrumental in organizing the Bishops-Ulama Conference for Interreligious Dialogue in the Philippines, around which he was able to gather several leaders."

Manila (AsiaNews) - The Church in the Philippines mourns the death of the former archbishop of Davao in the Mindanao region of the southern Philippines, Fernando Robles Capalla, who died on 6 January. He was 89 years old. He was one of the main "peace builders" in the most war-torn region of the country.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Caloocan, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said: “What you (Capalla) saw from afar before, you now see in your face. May the Lord make his face shine upon you. May he look with kindness on you who have taken up his Cross on your shoulders with all your sweetness and humility and give you rest."

Monsignor David also praised the service rendered by Capalla to the promotion of interreligious dialogue in Mindanao, where there are numerous conflicts between the various religious communities, fueled by the socio-political tensions of the area.

Monsignor Paul Cuison added: "Fernando Robles Capalla was our “Man of Peace”, instrumental in the organization of the Bishops-Ulama Conference [of which he was co-founder editor's note], he managed to bring together various leaders to start a true interreligious dialogue For his defense of peace and his being a true champion of interreligious dialogue in the Philippines, Archbishop Capalla received the “San Lorenzo Ruiz Award for Peace and Unity”.

Founded in 1996 by the former archbishop of Davao, the Bishops-Ulama Conference has been promoting peace and interreligious dialogue aimed at improving understanding between Muslims and Christians for almost 30 years. Capalla was instrumental in establishing this body and bringing together many religious leaders of different faiths to jointly promote development, human rights, dignity, social justice, peace and interreligious understanding.

The Conference still receives support from the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace of the Office of the Presidential Counselor on the Peace Process, as well as Catholic Relief Services and the US Catholic Bishops' Social Development Agency.

According to Antonio J. Montalván II, a local journalist and columnist, Capalla was "a friend of many in Mindanao and a fellow traveler in the fight against extrajudicial killings."

Capalla was born on November 1, 1934 in Leon, studied at St. John's University, the University of San Agustin and the Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary. Ordained a priest on March 18, 1961 in the diocese of Jaro, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Davao on April 2, 1975; on 25 April 1977 he was made prelate of Iligan; on June 28, 1994 he was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Davao until he became its archbishop on November 6, 1996, until his retirement in 2012. On February 11, 2012 Romulo Valles succeeded him.

Capalla will be remembered for his contribution to peace and interreligious dialogue, as well as for his episcopal ministry.