As the bastion of Catholicism in Asia, the Philippines joins the universal Church in joyful celebration and heartfelt thanksgiving following the election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., as the 267th Successor of Saint Peter and the new Vicar of Christ.
In a pastoral letter issued on the same day from the Diocese of Cubao, located in the heart of Quezon City—one of the capital cities of the country—Elias L. Ayuban, Jr., CMF, Bishop of Cubao, led the faithful in welcoming the new pontiff.
In his letter, he proclaimed “Habemus Papam!” and invited everyone to prayerfully support the Holy Father’s mission.
Liturgical and pastoral directives have been released to all parishes, religious communities, and pastoral councils within the diocese. These include:
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The immediate inclusion of Pope Leo XIV’s name in the Eucharistic Prayer;
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The offering of Holy Masses for the intention of the new pope, using the proper prayers from the Roman Missal;
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The option to pray a Prayer of Thanksgiving for the gift of the new Roman Pontiff.
In the prayer provided by the bishop, Pope Leo XIV is entrusted to the Lord as a “loving shepherd, gentle and listening father, faithful teacher, and steward of sacred mysteries.” The faithful are encouraged to deepen their commitment to unity and mission under the new Pope’s guidance.
“Truly, the Lord never abandons us,” the bishop affirmed. “Let us pray that Pope Leo XIV may be a faithful guardian of the deposit of faith, a father to the poor, and a sign of hope for the world.”
Pope Leo XIV now takes up the helm of the Catholic Church at a time of global challenges and renewed calls for evangelization, unity, and mercy.
In his first message, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of peace and unity—responding to concerns the Cardinals had been discussing even before the Conclave began.
Born on September 14, 1955, Robert Francis Prevost served as a missionary in Peru for nearly two decades before becoming Prior General of the Augustinian Order for two terms. He later served as Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. He was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops before being elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2023 by the late Pope Francis.
As the global Church gives thanks for this new chapter, the Philippines stands in full communion with the Holy Father—united in prayer, mission, and service.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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