Mgr Capalla: The Pope's legacy for the Philippines: a culture of life and missionary zeal
Rome (AsiaNews) The "supremacy of the spirit over materialism" and the "duty to share Christ with other Asian countries" are the most important legacies the Pope leaves to the Filipino Church, Mgr Fernando Capalla, president of the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines, told AsiaNews. Mgr Capalla is currently in Rome to pay his last respects to the deceased pontiff.
"Today in the Philippines, there is a strong movement in favor of a pro-life culture and against proposals for death made by certain politicians," said Mgr Capalla, referring to proposed legislation dubbed the "two-children law" which seeks to impose a widespread birth control program.
"This is an example of how our culture is ever more attached to western-style materialism. But the pope called us to a personalistic vision of man and society, which promotes life and human dignity. This has been understood by Muslims too, who support and back our pro-life struggle."
In 1995, in Manila, the pope invited Filipino society to keep alive "the primacy of the spirit over materialism"; "Today," continues Mgr Capalla, who is archbishop of Davao, "we are threatened by materialism".
John Paul II has also asked the Filipino church to take on a stronger missionary role in Asia: "I remember that during his two visits to the Philippines in 1981 and 1995," said Capalla, "the pope told us the Filipino Church should act as a missionary to Asian countries" where Christians are in a minority.
"We felt encouraged in our mission, which we now want to fulfill in the most profound way possible, to repay the trust placed in us". In itself, spreading awareness about the pro-life struggle of the Filipino Church is "a way of being missionaries and of spreading the Christian message to those who do not know it yet." (LF)
.png)
