Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who has become the subject of some of President Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal attacks, was told to face challenges in his diocese with “courage” by none other than the Pope himself.
David, through a Facebook post on Friday, May 24, shared his experience when he and other Filipino bishops went to Rome for their “Ad Limina apostolorum” (to the threshold of the apostles) visit. The “Ad Limina” visit, which is said to be held every five years, is where the Church leaders report the status of their respective archdioceses and dioceses to the Pontiff.
According to him, they were seated around Pope Francis in a circle and were allowed to address him freely without having to use a microphone. When it was his turn, David did not ask the Pontiff any questions, instead, he asked for his prayers.
“He looked into my eyes as I spoke. I was surprised when he interrupted me in the middle of my sentence and said, ‘I want you to know that I know your situation; I know what you are going through. I am praying for you. Please continue,'” the bishop said.
David said Pope Francis also gave each of them a gift — but this was not the only thing he received. When he was about to leave after their meeting, David said the Pontiff held his arm and told him, “Wait. Please let me give you a special blessing. I want you to know I am with you as you face trials in your ministry in your diocese.”
“He extended his right hand to pray over me. He said, ‘May the Lord keep within you the heart of the Good Shepherd,'” the prelate said.
“Then he pulled me to himself to give me a warm paternal embrace, pressing his head against mine, and brushing his hand gently on my back as he whispered into my ears, ‘Courage!’ My heart melted after that,” he added.
David also said he handed the Pope a personal gift, a book titled “El Evangelio del Amor De Acuerdo a Juan/a.” This is the Spanish version of the second volume of a book titled, “The Gospel of Love According to Juan/a,” which the bishop co-authored with Nina Tomen. It was translated by Argentinian Fr. Salvador Curutchet.
“He was delighted to find out that the book was in his mother tongue,” he shared.
The Chief Executive has launched a series of verbal attacks against the Catholic Church, which has expressed opposition to the administration’s war on drugs.
In some of his tirades, Duterte specifically mentioned David, whom he accused of stealing from mass offerings and being involved in illegal drugs, which the latter had denied.
David, in February, revealed that he has been receiving threats to his life.
[READ: Caloocan Bishop David reveals he has been receiving death threats]