The new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Church leadership must begin with care for bishops themselves, outlining a two-year agenda that places pastoral attention to the “shepherds” at the center of his term.
Archbishop Gilbert Garcera made the call on Jan 25, at the opening of the 131st CBCP plenary assembly in Manila, where he identified support for bishops as his first priority.
“Before tending the flock, we must care for the shepherds,” Garcera said, stressing the need to accompany retired bishops, guide newly ordained ones, and support those marking jubilee years in ministry.
He said bishops face growing demands that require sustained formation and personal care, particularly as the Church confronts emerging concerns such as artificial intelligence and the defense of human dignity.
Garcera’s second priority focused on strengthening coordination within the CBCP, calling for clearer roles among its commissions and offices. He said these bodies exist to assist bishops and “do not act independently,” underscoring the need for better communication and closer collaboration.
“In a truly synodal spirit, we seek clearer communication, shared direction, and closer collaboration, so that our programs genuinely respond to the pastoral needs of our dioceses,” he said.
Advancing synodality was the third pillar of Garcera’s agenda, which he described as “not an event but a way of being Church,” marked by shared discernment and collective responsibility.
The biannual assembly brought together more than 97 bishops, including newly ordained bishops Dave Dean Capucao of Infanta, Edwin Panergo of Boac, and Samuel Agcaracar of San Jose in Nueva Ecija, who are attending the three-day meeting for the first time.
The assembly was preceded by a three-day bishops’ seminar that tackled artificial intelligence, the implementation of synodality, and follow-up discussions on transparency and accountability.
An onboarding seminar for chairmen and executive secretaries of CBCP commissions and offices was also held earlier this month.
Elected CBCP president in July 2025, Garcera said he accepted the role amid national challenges and increasing expectations of Church leadership. He recalled surviving a severe COVID-19 illness, describing his election as a renewed gift of life and service.
“With gratitude to the Good Shepherd, I accept this mandate to serve,” he said, referring to both his archdiocese and the bishops’ conference.
Looking ahead to the 2028 ecclesial assembly in Rome and the Philippine presidential election in the same year, Garcera called on the Church to exercise “pastoral vigilance and moral clarity.”
“The presidency of the CBCP is not about one person,” he said, “but about walking together on a mission.”
