MANILA, 7 April 2005 — Philippine Roman Catholic bishops and priests said yesterday Pope John Paul II’s successor should remain conservative in such key issues as abortion, divorce, contraception and same-sex marriage.
“We cannot have a pope that is liberal because it is anti-God,” said Archbishop Ramon Arguelles. “You must have a pope who can interpret very well the laws of God and the laws of nature.”
But the bishops and priests said the new pope can take a liberal stance on social issues.
Father Anton Pascual, a senior minister of the Archdiocese of Manila, said that while the new pope must be conservative on issues that involve “the laws of God and life,” he has to be “progressive” when it comes to human rights, poverty and ecology.
“The best spirituality is balance,” he said.
Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, who will take part in the conclave to choose the new pope, said Pope John Paul II’s successor must be “very, very strong” to be able to lead the church amid difficult times.
“He must be strong and firm in maintaining the posit of faith of the church,” Vidal told reporters in Manila before traveling to the Vatican late Tuesday.
“The church now faces many problems such as the objections to many of the church’s doctrine and of course with the condition of the world, modern life that is sometimes contrary to the way of Christian living,” he added.
Vidal urged millions of Filipino Catholics to pray that the College of Cardinals choose “the right man” to succeed the 84-year-old pontiff.
“Let us pray for the success of the conclave, that the electors would be able to choose the right man for this age,” he said.
Vidal is one of two Filipino cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave.
It was still unsure if retired Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin could join the conclave because of bad health. He is undergoing a medical checkup to determine if he can fly to Rome, an aide said.
The Philippines has a third cardinal, but he is already disqualified to vote because he is more than 80 years old.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo left for the Vatican late last night with a five-man official delegation, selected members of the Cabinet, and an unofficial party of clergy and business leaders. to attend Pope John Paul II’s funeral.
They are expected to return to the country on Saturday morning, a day after the 84-year-old pontiff is laid to rest tomorrow. Arroyo has declared a period of national mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast until the pope is buried.
Malaca?ang Palace said the government would shoulder only the expenses of those in the official delegation. Each passenger on the PAL flight to Rome paid $1,700.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales said a prayer vigil and mass will be held at the Luneta Park tomorrow to coincide with the pope’s funeral. It was in Luneta that more than 4 million people participated in what is considered as the biggest mass ever held in history during the 1995 visit of Pope John Paul II in the Philippines.
