Pinoy bishop to get 'most special' Church symbol from Pope Francis

MANILA, Philippines - Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tirona will receive on Saturday the "pallium" from Pope Francis, making him the only Filipino archbishop this year who will obtain one of the "most special symbols" of the Catholic Church. 

 

In an article posted on the news website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Tirona arrived in Rome on Sunday for the papal Mass and imposition of the pallium on new metropolitan archbishops from all over the world.

 

"The pallium is a vestment made of white wool only worn by the pontiff and by archbishops. The pope uses the pallium to symbolize the plenitude of pontifical office," the article said.

 

"For archbishops, it signifies the authority given to them by the pope over their respective archdioceses, particularly their bond and shared responsibility with the pontiff to pastors in their regions," it added.

 

The pope gives a pallium to newly-installed archbishops around the world on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul every year, according to the article.

 

It said many of those receiving the pallium this year have been appointed since June 29, 2012 or during the term of Pope Francis’ predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

 

Tirona will be the only Filipino archbishop to receive the pallium this year and is the first one to get it from Pope Francis.

 

The 66-year-old Carmelite missionary was the last archbishop to be appointed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI last year before the latter stepped down from his post five months after, according to the CBCP.

 

The imposition of the pallium on new metropolitan archbishops will take place at the St. Peter’s Basilica on June 29 at 9:30 a.m. (3:30 p.m. in Manila).