Love one another, Church tells politicians

MANILA, Philippines - Catholic Church leaders yesterday urged politicians “to love one another” as this is the true meaning of Lent.

“There is only one thing God wants of us, it is to love one another,” Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.

“Jesus’ arms are spread wide on the cross, to gather us all into his arms… We must love one another as this is the true meaning of the Lenten season,” he said.

Rosales said that “no matter how good the politicians speak, if they don’t help other people, it doesn’t mean anything.”

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez urged every Filipino, not only politicians, to reflect on their sins this Holy Week.

He said government leaders must become “selfless” and always think of the welfare of the people.

“Selfishness is a sin. That’s the root of all evil,” said Iniguez, also head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ committee on public affairs.

In the Philippines, a largely Roman Catholic nation, Holy Week, known as “Semana Santa” is treated as one of the most important religious festivals of the year.

Holy Week rites are held to commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Filipino Roman Catholics mark Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. – Helen Flores