Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma (holding a crosier or staff) and other local Church officials take a few minutes to pray in front of a portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died in the Vatican on Saturday, December 31, 2022. Palma presided over a Requiem Mass for the late pontiff at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Monday afternoon, January 2, 2023. (DALE ISRAEL / INQUIRER VISAYAS)
CEBU CITY — The Archdiocese of Cebu has joined others around the world in mourning the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma presided over a Requiem Mass for the late pontiff at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Monday afternoon, January 2.
A portrait of Pope Benedict XVI was placed in front of the altar, along with a zucchetto or skull cap worn by the former pope.
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The cap was brought to Cebu City by Msgr. Jan Thomas Limchua, a Cebuano priest with a rank of a papal chaplain and a member of the household of Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Palma said Benedict XVI would be remembered for giving San Pedro Calungsod, the first saint from the Visayas and the second Filipino saint in 2012.
The late pope chose Cebu as the venue for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.
It was also Benedict XVI who appointed Palma as the archbishop of Cebu.
“We always believe that he is God’s gift to the whole church and in particular to the Archdiocese of Cebu,” Palma said in an interview after the Mass.
“He offered to us an example of humility and love for the church. Today, we feel that being a wonderful and loving shepherd, we pray that soon, the Church may find a way to raise him up in the altar of the Lord.”
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During the Mass, Palma was accompanied by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Antonio Ranola and some priests.
After the Holy Mass, people crowded and approached the portrait and the skull cap inside a glass box to take pictures and offer prayers.