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Monday, April 04, 2005
Oro faithful marks feast, mourns Pope
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
THE Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro said Sunday the death of Pope John Paul II is both a moment of sadness and rejoicing for the Church.
The Archdiocese is also calling on all to pray for the soul of the Pope and that the election of the new Pope will be fully guided by the Holy Spirit.
This came as around 5,000 Roman Catholic devotees Sunday flocked to the Divine Mercy Hills at Barangay Ulaliman, El Salvador, Misamis Oriental to attend the Feast of the Divine Mercy and to remember the Pope.
The group also believes that there is great significance to the Pope's time of death being the Second Easter Sunday in the Philippines, the day that Pope John Paul II declared to be the Universal Feast of the Divine Mercy five years ago.
In his homily before hundreds of faithful in the San Augustine Cathedral, Archbishop Jesus Tuquib urged the faithful to pray for John Paul's soul and ask the Virgin Mary to guide the Church as it is prepares itself to elect a new leader.
While the death of the pope is being mourned around the world, Archbishop Tuquib said Catholics should also celebrate the life that "he has lived, trusting that his soul is in the hands of God right now."
In Malacañang, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined millions of Filipinos yesterday in mourning for Pope John Paul II, who himself has visited Asia's largest predominantly Roman Catholic nation with two well-received visits.
Shepherd
Catholics around the country held a vigil at dawn yesterday as they monitored news on the condition of the 84-year-old pontiff from the time he fell gravely ill until he died in his Vatican apartment at 3:37 a.m. Sunday local time, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
Meanwhile the Archdiocese is denying any division among its ranks and members during the time when the Pope was declared to be in "grave condition."
During his homily at the Divine Mercy Hills, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro spokesperson Msgr. Rey Monsanto said the Church is sad because of the loss and that she has lost her "shepherd" here on earth.
He nevertheless gave the assurance that the Roman Catholic Church is still being run by two cardinals.
"But there will still be no major decision-making until the next pope is chosen," he told the thousands of people who flocked to the Divine Mercy Hills Sunday.
Monsanto then narrated the process on how the next pope will be chosen and how there are three cardinals from the Philippines who might just be sent out to be part of the election of the next pope.
Great message
He nevertheless said Cardinal Sin may not make it to the Vatican as he is already sickly while a certain Cardinal Sanchez has already retired and in Rome.
Monsanto said Cardinal Vidal of the Archdiocese of Cebu might be called in to represent the country along with around 117 other cardinals all over the world.
"They will in what is called a conclave where they will not come out until they have chosen the new Pope," he said.
In the meantime, Monsanto said the Church is now calling all to pray for the Pope's soul and that the election of the new pope be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Meanwhile, the Divine Mercy Mindanao, Philippines Foundation, Inc. director Paquita Adaza said the death of the Pope was so timed on the Feast of the Divine Mercy.
"Once again God is sending to the world the great message of His Mercy by accepting the sacrifice of the greatest propagator of Mercy, Pope John Paul II," she said.
Monsanto for his part later told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that they he agrees that their is great significance that the Pope died on the day of the Feast of the Divine Mercy.
He said this particularly as it was Pope John Paul II who declared the second Sunday of Easter as the Feast of the Divine Mercy as he declared Sister Faustina as one of the Saints of the Catholic Church.
"Timing kaayo iyang pagkamatay nga Pista karon sa Divine Mercy," he said.
Monsanto also denied any reports that the Church was 'divided' when the Pope was on his last days on earth.
"It is not true that there is division only that when even the Vatican said the Pope is near death many of us were praying for an extension of his life but at the same time praying that God's will be done," he said.
(April 4, 2005 issue)
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