The new Pope must really love the Lord, Bishop says

“And it is only when he truly loves the Lord that he will be able to proclaim [the] Good News and resurrection to a world that is hungry for this message. This is what we should ask of the new Pope who will be chosen by the Cardinal-electors.”

This was the message of Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon in his homily for the concelebrated Diocesan Mass offered for the ongoing Conclave yesterday, May 7, at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great, Legazpi City.

A worthy successor of Peter

Reflecting on the life of Peter, the first Pontiff, Baylon raised a “more fundamental question” about the next Pontiff, beyond the “advocacies and preferences regarding the many concerns that trouble the world today”; and it is this: “Will he be like Peter?”

“Why Peter?”, the prelate asked again. “Because Peter, being human, is an ideal person who could identify with the weakness of men. [He] understands the difficulty of following the Lord and what it means to be afraid to witness in the name of truth and justice.”

In addition, to praying for Peter’s successor to be like him, Baylon also said that the lay faithful should also pray for someone who acknowledges that without the Lord, he is unable to do anything. “He must be able to proclaim he is able to do anything or something because the Lord is with him.”

Lastly, Baylon said that the next Pope must be able to “proclaim the message of the resurrection because it is through the resurrection that we will conquer sin and death. The resurrection will allow us to overcome the many crosses that we bear because the resurrection has conquered death through the cross.”

In closing, the prelate exhorted, “These are what the new Pope must proclaim by his life, by his words, and by his witness.”

Masses across the Bicol Region offered as Conclave begins

In the Archdiocese of Caceres, all masses celebrated last May 7 at the Basilica Minore de Peñafrancia are “Missa pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” (Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff).

In addition, at the Diocese of Virac, Church bells were rung at 12 noon at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. A Holy Hour was observed at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, which preceded the eucharistic celebration offered for the ongoing Conclave. (Natalie Hazel Quimlat)