News and UpdatesIn the News‘Violence is not the answer’

‘Violence is not the answer’

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The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, has expressed solidarity with the people of Negros Oriental amid the spate of killings that have rocked the province in recent months.

Archbishop Caccia was on a two-day trip in Dumaguete starting Monday for a series of activities in line with his pastoral visit to the Diocese of Dumaguete, and to attend the founding day anniversary of St. Paul University – Dumaguete.

In an interview on Monday evening, the Papal Nuncio said: “First of all, as a message of solidarity for the family of the victims, we always pray for any people who (have) lost (their) life, and we want to express solidarity, sorrow, condolences, to those who are affected.”

Caccia, however, said that violence is not the answer to end conflict.

“We realize that violence is never the answer to the problems, and so find a better solution to solve the problem but keeping also the possibility of the people to change, to start anew,” the 61-year old Italian diplomat from the Holy See said.

Caccia said he believes in giving people who have gone astray a second chance to change.

“For instance, in the family, when somebody is errant, it is possible to help that person in need to “recover his dignity in the right way and so we always have to be open and positive in helping them,” he said.

“This is also what the Lord demands from all of us,” he added.

The Nuncio gave his reaction to a message earlier delivered by Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes during the testimonial dinner with the Dumaguete clergy in his honor, thanking him for his pastoral visit and briefly speaking about the state of affairs in the diocese and in the province.

“As you conclude your pastoral visit, Your Excellency, we wish that you continue to keep us in your prayers,” Cortes told the Apostolic Nuncio.

“The island of Negros, very recently, has witnessed unspeakable violence, that of families, for example, being awakened in the middle of the night and later finding some of their loved ones dead at the break of day; some persons shot in cold blood for still to be discovered reasons; and several killed because of their links with drugs.”

Cortes went on to say that since Caccia had previously lived in Lebanon as Papal Nuncio for seven to eight years, he must have come across violent incidents and conflicts among different sectors in society.

“Your insights, therefore, on how we may proceed with our work of evangelization even as we respond to threats (to) peace and justice will be most valuable to us,” the Dumaguete prelate said.

With the series of violence and killings not only in Negros Oriental but in Negros Occidental as well, the four bishops of the island had issued a collegial statement calling for an end to the spate of killings.

To date, an Oratio Imperata, a special prayer written for this specific purpose, is still being prayed at the end of each mass, particularly on Sundays.

Caccia’s pastoral visit included whistle stops at the St. John Vianney Clergy House, the St. Joseph Seminary College, the Carmelite Monastery, and the newly-constructed building for the seminary’s Propaedeutic Formation (pre-college), all in nearby Sibulan town.

The Papal Nuncio also motored to Tanjay City to lead the blessing and inauguration of the Museo Eclesiastico de Tanjay at St. James, The Greater Parish, the oldest parish in the diocese.

In the afternoon, he also visited the St. Augustine of Hippo Parish in Bacong town, which was declared by the National Museum as a National Cultural Treasure, after which he presided over a concelebrated mass at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Dumaguete.

He met briefly with different audiences at each stop, and addressed them, mostly speaking about Pope Francis’ messages of hope, love, faith, and peace.

The Nuncio also distributed copies of the Holy Father’s latest Apostolic Exhortation, “Christusvivit”, addressed mainly to young people, highlighting that “Christ is alive.”

He also handed out photos of Pope Francis with a prayer at the back, as he urged the people to always remember to pray for the Holy Father. (PNA)

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