Church

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila led thousands of devotees in prayers for peace as tensions mount between the United States and Iran following the assassination of a top Iranian general.

Few days after Iran warned of retaliation for the Jan. 3 US airstrike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, the cardinal said that “a threat of danger and violence is felt in some parts of the world”.

Pope Francis Thursday prayed for the people of the Philippines, who were hit Christmas Day by a typhoon which has killed more than a dozen people and caused extensive damage.

“I join in the pain that hit the dear population of the Philippines because of the typhoon Phanfone,” the pope said Dec. 26, at the end of his Angelus address.

Typhoon Phanfone first struck the Eastern Samar province of the Philippines as a Category 1 hurricane Dec. 24, continuing across the islands of the Eastern Visayas region into southern Luzon and Western Visayas Dec. 25.

"Father, just as you are in me and I am in you; may they also be one in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:21

A Catholic bishop called on young people to free themselves from addiction to mobile phones and instead give more time to Jesus.

Addressing the delegates of this year’s Tagbilaran Diocesan Youth Days on Nov. 24, Bishop Alberto Uy said that while cellphones are useful tools, it must be used in the right way.

“Let us give Jesus more time, more than the attention we give to our gadgets. Love Jesus more than you love your cellphones,” he said.

BANGKOK, Thailand — Filipino Catholic missionaries stationed in Thailand have welcomed the pope’s message as a challenge “to immerse further” into the lives of the people.

Oblates of Mary Immaculate Father Franklin Mirasol said the presence of Pope Francis “is a booster” for the men and women of the cloth, “especially for the foreign missionaries.”

“The Holy Father’s message, more than encouragement, is a guide for every missionary in this region. It will help us in our mission to evangelize,” he said.

VATICAN— Pope Francis Saturday named Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia the next Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.

“I hope to be able to fulfill well the new task Pope Francis has entrusted to me, seeking to bring the light of Catholic social teaching to the discussions and debates of the international community,” Caccia said of his appointment Nov. 16.

DAVAO CITY - A huge gathering of Basic Ecclesial Communities workers ended Thursday with a missionary mandate to work for justice and for the safeguarding of creation.

Bishop Jose Cabantan of Malaybalay spoke about the Gospel and justice at the closing Mass for the 4th BEC National Assembly in Davao City.

“We are called to proclaim God’s kingdom in justice and love,” he said in his homily. “Also, we are called to share this Gospel to different sectors of our community.”

KIDAPAWAN CITY - The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called attention to the plight of earthquake victims “who are less served.”

Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, CBCP President, said that focus must also be turned to thousands of victims who are not in big evacuation centers.

He said that many families were camped in makeshift shelters near their damaged homes “who received very little attention”.

“They are less served because they are not in the very visible big evacuation centers,” Valles said.

MANILA - The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has asked people to pray for the victims of the earthquake that killed at least five people in southern Philippines.

Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP President, expressed his solidarity with all those affected by the earthquake that struck several parts of Mindanao on Wednesday. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are for those families who lost lives and also suffered damages to their properties,” Archbishop Valles said. 

SORSOGON - Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Jose Alan Dialogo of the Manila archdiocese as the new bishop of Sorsogon.

The bishop-elect will succeed Bishop Arturo Bastes, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 last April. He served the diocese for 16 years.

Dialogo’s appointment was made public by Bastes himself during the ordination of three men to the priesthood at the Sorsogon Cathedral on Tuesday morning.