Vatican Official Urges Filipinos to Trust in Divine Power, Shun False Idols at CBCP Plenary Assembly
SANTA ROSA, LAGUNA – In a resounding call for spiritual fortitude, Archbishop Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, exhorted Filipinos to place their unwavering trust in God and reject the allure of false power. His message, delivered during the closing Mass of the 129th plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), resonated with a powerful reminder of the true source of strength and the dangers of seeking it in worldly domains. Held from January 25th to 27th at the Archdiocese of Lipa in Santa Rosa, Laguna, the assembly served as a platform for the nation’s Catholic leaders to deliberate on pressing issues facing the Church and society.
Archbishop Pagazzi’s homily centered on the nature of sin, not as the pursuit of power itself, but as the misguided quest for it in the wrong places. “The sin is not to seek power, but rather to seek it where it is not, to ask for it from one who does not have it, to hope to obtain it from one who is, in reality, powerless,” he emphasized. This pursuit of ephemeral power, the Archbishop argued, leads to the worship of idols – entities devoid of true sight and hearing, offering only illusory solutions and fleeting solace. He contrasted this with the enduring power of God, the source of all true strength and the ultimate provider.
The Archbishop’s message delved into the insidious nature of sin as a manifestation of distrust in God’s providence. He portrayed the devil as a cunning adversary who seeks to diminish the inherent power residing within believers, the power bestowed upon them as children of the Almighty. The devil’s strategy, according to Pagazzi, involves extinguishing courage, silencing the potent energy of hope, and undermining the faith that sustains individuals through life’s trials and tribulations. By succumbing to these temptations, individuals effectively relinquish their divine inheritance and embrace a path of vulnerability and despair.
Central to the Archbishop’s message was the call to embrace the Jubilee Year, a period of spiritual renewal and reflection. He urged the faithful to safeguard joy, recognizing it as a vital source of strength and resilience. “Let us seek to safeguard joy in our thoughts and affections. Let us seek not to open the doors to sadness because it weakens that power which Christ never ceases to give to us and to restore to us,” he implored. Joy, in this context, is not merely an emotional state but a spiritual fortress against the onslaught of negativity and despair.
The Archbishop’s message carried particular significance in the context of the CBCP plenary assembly. The gathering, a crucial event in the Philippine Catholic calendar, brings together bishops from across the country to discuss critical issues confronting the Church and society. The assembly provides a platform for collective prayer, thoughtful deliberation, and the formulation of pastoral responses to the challenges of the times. The theme of trusting in divine power, therefore, offered a timely reminder of the Church’s fundamental mission and the source of its enduring strength.
The 129th plenary assembly addressed a range of pertinent issues, including the ongoing synodal process, the Church’s role in social justice advocacy, and the challenges posed by secularization and the rise of alternative belief systems. Archbishop Pagazzi’s message served as a powerful reminder of the spiritual grounding that underpins the Church’s mission and its unwavering commitment to serving the Filipino people. His call to trust in God’s power, reject false idols, and embrace the Jubilee Year offered a roadmap for navigating the complexities of contemporary society and upholding the enduring values of faith, hope, and love. The Archbishop’s words echoed throughout the assembly, leaving a lasting impression on the assembled bishops and inspiring renewed commitment to their pastoral duties.