‘Be open to surprises,’ says Cebu prelate

MANILA, Philippines—“Be open to surprises from the Holy Spirit.”

The head of the country’s bishops gave this advice on Saturday to Filipinos after the Vatican announced that the conclave that will elect the next Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church will begin on Tuesday.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said that while Filipinos were rooting for Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, they should also pray for the election of a Pope who would address the current needs of the Church.

“At the heart of it is our belief that it is the work of the Holy Spirit … we should be open to the surprises of the Spirit,” Palma said in an interview.

“Whoever the cardinal-electors vote for, he would be another great Pope in the making,” he added.  Philip C. Tubeza