Pope Francis extended his “cordial solidarity” with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines as its members met for their first plenary assembly for 2018. In a message sent to Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP president, the pontiff assured the prelates of his “prayerful solidarity” as they discussed the life and mission of the Church during their biannual meeting. ADVERTISEMENTThe CBCP began its three-day plenary assembly on Saturday in Cebu City, the first under Valles, its new president. After a Mass celebrated by the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Valles and the other recently elected CBCP officials took their oath of office before Caccia. The plenary assembly was the first for Valles as president of the CBCP, and for Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David as CBCP president.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 27, 2018 11:48 UTC