‘Grow in holiness,’ Pope tells assembly of bishops

Some 90 Catholic bishops began a two-day plenary assembly in Manila on Saturday, receiving direct instructions from Pope Benedict XVI to work for the sanctification of priests. The Pope issued his instructions in a letter to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on the occasion of the latter's 100th plenary assembly being held at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila. “By preaching the Word, offering Eucharistic sacrifice, and administering the sacraments to God’s people, the clergy in your respective dioceses... may grow in holiness," the Pope said. Excerpts of his letter were posted on the CBCP news site. CBCP president Nereo Odchimar read the letter at the start of the plenary assembly. CBCP's highest decision-making body The Plenary Assembly is the CBCP’s highest decision-making body, which holds regular biannual sessions in January and July. The CBCP has 130 bishops, 32 of whom are retired. In his letter, Benedict XVI reminded bishops that their role is to sanctify. To do this, he said one must first tend to his own holiness of life. Continue teaching, Filipino prelates urged Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican’s Secretary of State, told the CBCP that the pope wants Filipino prelates to continue their roles as the chief catechists of their respective pastoral jurisdictions. He said that this means bishops must always be willing to “manifest ever more clearly the spirit of God at work in the world," taking every opportunity to reach out to those in need of instruction. Bertone also assured the bishops of the pontiff’s “apostolic blessing" even as he commended their works for the Catholic Church. 5,000 priests expected at National Congress The pope’s message to the clergy also came in time for the second National Congress of the Clergy, which will convene at the World Trade Center in Pasay City from January 25 to 29. Some 5,000 priests are expected to attend the gathering with the theme, “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests," which the pope has chosen as the official slogan for the celebration of the “Year for Priests" (2009-2010). The CBCP Commission on the Clergy is organizing the retreat-style national congress which will be facilitated by Preacher to the Papal Household, Capuchin Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa. - TJD/JV, GMANews.TV