Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma embraced the burden of being shepherd of his flock as he received from Pope Benedict XVI the “pallium,” an ecclesiastical vestment.
The ceremony took place at the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Palma knelt before the Pope and was among 41 metropolitan archbishops around the world who were conferred the pallium, a white stole worn around the neck and shoulders over a priest’s liturgical garments.
Palma, 61, was installed as the fourth archbishop of Cebu, succeeding Archbishop-emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal last January 13.
Made of wool from lambs, the pallium bears five crosses, which represents the five major wounds of Jesus Christ on the cross.
In his homily, Pope Benedict said the pallium is a reminder of unity and solidarity among Christ’s flock.
“Christ’s yoke is identical with his friendship. It is a yoke of friendship and therefore ‘a sweet yoke,’ but as such it is also a demanding yoke, one that forms us.
It is first and foremost the yoke of leading others to friendship with Christ and being available to others, caring for them as shepherds,” the Pope said.
The wool used for the pallium is taken from white lambs, which are left to the nuns who shall do the shearing during Holy Week.
The pope said the pallium also manifests the communion of the shepherds of the Church with St. Peter, the first Pope, and with his successors.
“It means that we must be shepherds for unity and in unity… It reminds us of Christ, who set out through the mountains and the deserts, in which his lamb, humanity, had strayed.”
Pope Benedict, 84, also celebrated yesterday his 60th anniversary of priesthood.
Pope John Paul II, who was beatified on May 1, started the tradition of the imposition of the pallium every June 29, the Solemnity of of Saints Peter and Paul to manifest unity between the world’s bishops and the successor of St. Peter.