Pray for Pope Francis’ healing, faithful urged

MANILA, Philippines — Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon has asked the Catholic faithful to pray for 88-year-old Pope Francis, who has been confined in a hospital due to a polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract.

In an interview over Radio Veritas on Monday, Bishop Alarcon said that the pope needs the people’s prayers for his continued strength and wisdom to lead 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.

Alarcon, who is also chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Youth, specifically directed his appeal to the youth to pray for Francis.

“I am calling on everyone, especially the youth, to pray for Pope Francis as our leader, the shepherd of the universal church, that he would be given strength, wisdom and the determination to continue to guide us toward the reforms in the Church as an institutional church,” he said.

The prelate of the Archdiocese of Caceres in Camarines Sur emphasized that the pope is undertaking significant work, advocating for change in the world, starting with the Curia.

“Let us pray together so that Pope Francis would be given the strength that he needs in order to continue shepherding over us,” Alarcon added.

The pontiff has been confined at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day.

Providing an update on Francis, the Vatican reported that the pontiff is in “stable” condition and has no fever.

The pope has experienced influenza and other health issues multiple times over the past two years.

As a young adult, he developed pleurisy and had part of one lung removed. In recent years, he has been prone to lung infections.

Commitment to celibacy

Archbishop Charles Brown, the papal nuncio to the Philippines, reaffirmed that the Catholic Church will not abandon its commitment to clerical celibacy despite speculations that the establishment of a permanent diaconate – open to married men – would allow priests to marry.

In an interview with dzRV Radio Veritas, Archbishop Brown said, “The Church will never abandon celibacy. You should not be afraid of that because celibacy of the priesthood is absolutely integral to the Church’s discipline.”

He clarified that while married men may enter the permanent diaconate, this does not signify a change in the Church’s stance on priestly celibacy.

The papal nuncio also emphasized that the concept of permanent deacons is not new.

“Permanent diaconate is not an innovation. It’s always part of the church’s life,” he said.

On July 25, 2023, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) submitted a petition to the Vatican requesting the establishment of the Permanent Diaconate in the Ecclesiastical Circumscriptions.

Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the substitute of the Secretariat of State of the Vatican, responded with a one-page letter dated Aug. 17, 2023, granting the request.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Public Affairs Committee, previously explained that the shortage of priests was a key factor in the request to establish permanent deacons.

“The dearth of vocation to the priesthood is the driving force behind such a request. The church needs ministers who will continue the work of evangelization, preaching and administration of the sacrament of baptism and sacramentals like blessing of images, houses, cars and others,” Secillano said.

He noted that permanent deacons would support priests in ministry but with limitations, as certain sacramental duties remain exclusive to priests and bishops.

According to Aleteia.org, there are two types of deacons: transitional deacons, who are on the path to priesthood, and permanent deacons, who remain deacons for life without becoming priests.

Secillano further explained that the vocation of a permanent deacon is open to married men, but spousal consent is required.