Palma: Don't be afraid, pray more

CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday tried to assure Catholics in Cebu who are worried that the church will be without a leader while the cardinal-electors have yet to pick a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

"Pope Benedict said Christ did not leave the boat. Our leader is Jesus, we are all auxiliary helpers," he said.

"Ang atong simbahan (Our church) is under the direction of the Lord, (although) we do not have a pope," the prelate said in his homily during the farewell mass for the third visit of relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

The concelebrated mass, held at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral last Thursday evening, also served as a farewell gesture to Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Benedict XVI stepped down from the Vatican last Thursday.

The mass was the last time Pope Benedict XVI was mentioned, in compliance with a directive from the Vatican.

The pope was no longer mentioned in a mass celebrated by Msgr. Albert Songco, head of the delegation of the pilgrim relic of St. Therese, at the Carmelite convent in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Palma said the conclave-gathering of cardinals who are eligible to vote-was set on March 15 but this may be done earlier.

Palma urged people to pray for the cardinals who are tasked to elect the next pope.

The cardinals are in a retreat, part of preparations for electing the pope's successor.

Palma brushed aside talks that Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the only Filipino cardinal-elector, has been shortlisted for the papacy.

Instead of speculating, he urged the pople to pray that the cardinal-electors will receive guidance from the Holy Spirit.

"Whoever they (cardinal-electors) vote for, he would be another great pope in the making," he added.