Vatican body approves process for sainthood of Cebu archbishop

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma looks at a portrait of the late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot at the Daughters of St. Teresa church.—CEBU DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY—The Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints has approved the diocesan process for the cause of sainthood of the late Cebuano Archbishop Teofilo Camomot who was known for his extreme generosity and love for the poor.

In a letter addressed to the Cebu Archdiocese dated Nov. 9, Cardinal Angelo Amato said the inquiries and affidavits of witnesses gathered by the archdiocese on the life, virtues and holiness of Camomot were valid and legitimate.

Amato is the prefect of the congregation that oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints.

Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili, vice postulator of Camomot’s cause, hoped to begin the next step of the process, which was to prove that the late archbishop possessed heroic virtues that would give the him the
title “venerable.”

“We’re very happy that the congregation approved what we are doing. We were not asked to change anything nor add something to it. Everything is good,” he told the Inquirer.

Testimony

Balili said the diocesan process includes gathering of documents and writings of Camomot, as well as the testimonies of witnesses who had personal encounters with the archbishop.

“The first stage involves the creation of a tribunal, the theological committee, and the historical committee. The tribunal gathered the testimonies of witnesses. The historical committee gathered all the writings, which was analyzed by the theological committee,” he said.

Balili said they ended the diocesan process in March and submitted it to Rome in April.

“We got the results this month,” Balili said.