A Cebuano meets Pope Benedict

CEBU, Philippines - Robert C. Canton, a resident of Stockton, Ca. since 1973 and a Cebuano had the rare privilege of a private audience with Pope Benedict XV1 outside St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican last year. He was invited, as a Council member of the Vatican-based International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services(ICCRS), to meet personally with the Holy Father. ICCRS was created by the Holy See in 1973 to serve the Catholic Charismatic Renewal worldwide. Of the 14 Council members representing all the continents of the world,there were nine of them present during their meeting with the Pope. Canton represents the English speaking North America, Central America, and the Caribbean countries to ICCRS. He represents roughly 16 million Catholic Charismatics in those regions. He is the first Filipino-American to serve in that capacity.

During their meeting, Mr. Canton requested the Pontiff to bless the Philippines and the entire Filipino people including those who are residing outside the Philippines. "The Filipino people are close to my heart. You have my blessings and you are all in my prayers, and you are all in my heart," replied Pope Benedict. Canton assured him that Filipinos are praying for him and his ministry as the successor to St. Peter. The Holy Father told Canton to "continue doing the works of the Lord to serve the Universal Church."

The Pope's message to ICCRS Council members and to all Christians for that matter, was: "Rely always on the Lord and His power and pray for world peace." Then the Pope had group pictures with the Council members. According to Canton, he is hoping to have another private audience with the Holy Father during the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod on Oct. 21, 2012 as a Cebuano and as a representative of ICCRS to the canonization ceremonies.

Robert Canton was born and raised in Cebu City. In 1973, he left for the U S after he graduated from the University of San Carlos. On many occasions, he conducted Healing Crusades in Cebu City and in many parts of the Philippines for the last seven years. In 2009, he spoke before 10,000 people gathered in the Araneta Coliseum during the Kyregma Catholic Charismatic Conference.

He was first elected to the ICCRS Council in 2007, and he is presently serving the second year of his second term on the ICCRS Council. The ICCRS Council meets once a year for a week-long meeting in the Vatican. He serves in the Finance and Newsletter Committees of the ICCRS Council.

To date, he has ministered in 44 countries through the ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. Two weeks ago, he spoke before the Brazilian Catholic Charismatic Congress in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. He has also been serving as National Servant Coordinator of the Alliance of the Filipino Catholic Charismatic Prayer Communities in North America since 1997 and a head servant leader of the Children of God Prayer Community at St. Luke's Parish in Stockton, California. He is a member of the Association of Christian Therapists based in the United States and a member of the Filipino Pastoral Council in the Diocese of Stockton. He is married to the former Chita Romero of Pangasinan. They have two daughters.