"Though relatively few, there have been success stories of reconciliation in Mindanao and throughout the country. Let us pray and work for more," said Capalla, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in his Easter Sunday pastoral message.
Capalla, however, said reconciliation should be based on genuine forgiveness, quoting Pope John Paul II who said, "There shall be no peace without justice and no justice without forgiveness."
"Lasting unity and peace is the result of authentic reconciliation, of restoration of broken and wounded relationships of individuals and communities among Christians and Muslims and among all believers as well," he said.
He said the past, present and would-be leaders of the country "can and must enter into these processes (of reconciliation) if they care for our people and want to change the course of history."
For his part, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Jesus Tuquib urged voters yesterday to make a difference in the May 10 elections by choosing candidates who could better the country’s future.
Tuquib also said the electorate should not be scared of but "confront the challenges with determination and resist any form of intimidation and manipulation that come before and during the elections and during the counting of ballots."
"Let’s make the country’s electoral exercise honest, orderly and peaceful," he said. "This is our oratio imperata (prayer for the country)."
Tuquib prodded voters to take advantage of the May 10 polls to "change the course of our history" by choosing candidates who are responsive to the plight of the poor, who will bring about a good economy, who respect the sanctity of life, and who will bring lasting solutions to the peace and order and other problems. — Edith Regalado, Bong Fabe