‘Pope concerned over RP situation’

Pope John Paul II has expressed concern about the political situation in the country following a stalemate in the congressional canvass of votes for president and vice president.

Bishop Ramon Arguelles, outgoing military ordinate, said the Pope is worried because the Philippines is the largest Catholic nation in the world next to Brazil and Mexico.

"We are even bigger than the American Catholics," he said.

Arguelles said the Pope is concerned, not only about the political situation, but everything happening in the country.

"If we are a Catholic nation and we show very un-Catholic and un-Christian attitudes, then we are bad Catholics...," he said.

"So the Pope is very much interested in what’s going on in the country. Very much. Not directly, though, but he is praying for us.

"He said this before. Even before the elections the Pope said he is personally concerned about our situation. We are always in his thoughts because we are important to him," Arguelles said. — Jose Aravilla