Pope urges Philippines: Be a home with open doors

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis urged the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to continue their efforts in expressing evangelical charity, leading toward transforming the Philippines into “a home with open doors.”

In his message to the CBCP, read by Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown during yesterday’s plenary assembly of the Filipino bishops, Pope Francis said that he trusts them that their deliberations will be productive amid the pandemic.

Brown was present during yesterday’s virtual CBCP plenary assembly, which is a two-day event from Jan. 26 to 27.

“He trusts that, amid the challenges of the global health crisis, your deliberations will lead to more creative expressions of evangelical charity and thus enable the Church in the Philippines to be recognized as ‘a home with open doors,’ offering hope and strength to the suffering and to all who seek a more humane and dignified life,” Pope Francis said.

Brown said that Pope Francis sent his cordial greetings to the members of the CBCP as he imparts his apostolic blessings “as a pledge of communion and peace in the Lord.”

The CBCP said that there are more than 80 bishops attending as of yesterday. The bishops have discussed reports from the nine regional representatives of the CBCP Permanent Council on their situation amid the pandemic, their responses and plans of actions.

The CBCP said that the bishops will also discuss updates on the plans for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.