Pope recognizes Filipinos’ strength, faith — Palma

Pope Francis appreciates the piety of Filipino Catholics, something that will sustain them in recovering from the trials of 2013.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma assured this during his New Year’s Eve Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral to celebrate the “Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God”— a feast held on Jan. 1.

“Even the Holy Father recognizes our popular religiosity,” Palma said as he encouraged the faithful to draw strength from the Church in moving on from the earthquake and supertyphoon Yolanda.

He said Catholics, as “banal at bayani” (holy ones and heroes), must work for social transformation in 2014 which was declared by the Catholic church as the Year of the Laity.

He echoed Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Peace, also celebrated Jan. 1: “We do not run away… There is peace if there is solidarity. We are not only neighbors, we are brothers and sisters. There is a bond that makes us reach out to one another. Because of our faith, we are brothers and sisters in Jesus.”

Palma, who used to head the archdiocese of Palo, paid tribute to the resilience of survivors in Leyte. During his two visits there, he said he witnessed how the people have encouraged one another.

“We rebuilt after World War II. Shouldn’t we rebuild after Yolanda, too?” he quoted survivors as saying, while he asked for prayers for the souls of those who died.

While 2013 was a year of sadness and tears, said Palma, it was also a year of celebration and cheers.

“We have learned lessons especially our appreciation of life,” he said.

“Life is short but life is a gift for which we thank God, especially in praying to Mary through whom we receive salvation in Jesus,” he said.

Palma said the Catholic Church’s esteem for Filipinos is shown in the fact that San Pedro Calungsod was the only one among 44 persons officially beatified by Rome in March 2000 who was later declared a saint. In addition, of the seven persons canonized in October 2012, only San Pedro Calungsod had an image mounted last year inside the St. Peter’s Basilica.

“We do not know what the future holds but we know who holds the future. The future is in the hands of God. That is why we do not fear. We do not walk alone. God is with us. The saints are with us,” Palma said. /Correspondent Jason A. Baguia