MESSAGE
ON THE INAUGURATION OF THE PETRINE MINISTRY
OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

With the Archbishops and Bishops of the Philippines, the Archdiocese of Manila joins the Universal Church in celebrating with thankfulness to God the selection of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, and welcome as the Catholic Church’s Supreme Pontiff as he begins the Petrine Ministry for the good of the Church under the guidance of the Lord Himself.

Aware of the problems that today challenge the Church’s preaching of Jesus, the Good News, the Holy father could only refer to himself as “a weak servant of God” assuming this tremendous task and needing the help of every one to carry on.

The image of the shepherd that Poe Benedict many times mentioned in his inaugural reflection, starting from the Pallium, reminds all of the tremendous responsibility of the Roman Apostolic Catholic Church’s Pope in guiding, accompanying and leading the people from the many deserts they now inhabit --- the desert of the poverty, of hunger, of abandonment, loneliness and destroyed (lost) love, the desert of God’s darkness, emptiness of soul and the desert of ignorance to dignity and the goal of human life. He even included in his idea of wilderness the wrong understanding and the cynical image of sheep and subject.

Accepting the gravity of responsible leadership (shepherding), Pope Benedict asked, if not pleaded, for prayers he knew he urgently needed. “Pray for me,” the Pope begged, “that I may learn to love the Lord’s (his) flock more and more --- in other words, you, the holy church, each one of you, all of you together,”

Brothers and Sisters, from this Cathedral Church in Manila, we will give Pope Benedict XVI the prayers he asked for, we will help him serve and unite the Church. Let us remember that the person who prays is never alone!

Thank you and God bless!

+GAUDENCIO B. ROSALES
Archbishop of Manila
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Manila