Philippine Church leaders thankful for new pope
Manila (AsiaNews/Ucan) - Philippine Church leaders declared their love and support for the newly elected pope. Filipinos are "praising and thanking God for giving the Catholic Church a new Supreme Pontiff," the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, declared in a press statement.
The statement signed by Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, CBCP president, conveyed the conference's "filial respect and reverence" for the new pope. The bishops also wished to "renew their love, loyalty and commitment to the Holy Father and the Holy See as the center of the foundation and unity of the Church."
"In these times of socioeconomic (and) political un-peace, uncertainty and insecurity worldwide, the Filipino bishops assure His Holiness of their continued and fervent prayers" with clergy, Religious and the laity, Archbishop Capalla added. The Church leaders, he continued, also look to Mary to "cover Pope Benedict XVI with her mantle of protection and lead him into a deeper personal experience of the Risen Lord."
Cardinal Jaime Sin 's private secretary said the retired archbishop of Manila was "very happy" with the election of a "bright and good man" as pope. Father Rufino Sescon Jr.
Bishop Antonio Ledesma of Ipil - southeast of Manila - said, "I am very comfortable with his (pope's) election and I do not foresee any major changes in the policies" of the Church related to interreligious dialogue. "I hope he will continue the policies of Pope John Paul II and the already-started interreligious dialogue movement," the Jesuit prelate said. Bishop Ledesma, chairman of the CBCP commission on interreligious dialogue, believes Pope Benedict "will be more sensitive to the overall needs of the Church guided by the power of the Holy Spirit." He cited reports describing the new pope, then a priest, as belonging to "the progressive group at Vatican II." The Philippine bishop said Pope Benedict "will have the opportunity to continue what he helped start some 40 years ago."
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