BALANGA CITY — The Bataan bishop who has spent 11 years in Rome on Wednesday recalled fond memories of Pope Benedict XVI who as still prefect in one of the congregations in the Vatican was fond of apple pie for dessert.
Bishop Ruperto Santos also described the Pope’s resignation as surprising and saddening.
“Nagdulot ng kalungkutan at pagkabigla, hindi sukat-akalain. Mahirap tanggapin at maunawaan,” the bishop of the diocese of Balanga said when asked to give his reaction.
He said the Holy Father showed a good example of thinking of the welfare of the Church above oneself.
“Tinanggap niyang buong kababang-loob na dapat na siyang mag-retiro dahil hindi na niya kaya physically, emotionally at spiritually,” the bishop said.
Santos who is presently a member of the Pontifical Committee on International Congress was vice rector in 1999 and later Rector of the Pontifico Collegio de Filipino in Rome from 2000–2010.
He said that he first met the Pope as prefect then of the Second Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
“Unang impression namin sa kanya ay istrikto, nakakatakot pero kapag nalapitan at nakausap na siya, mababang-loob pala, mahiyain, very accommodating, very fatherly at very concerned,” Santos said.
The bishop smiled as he recalled that they often saw the Pope while still prefect eating at a restaurant in Rome catering to cheap packed lunch. “Hindi nawawala ang order niyang apple pie bilang dessert,” Santos said.
He said that the Pope advised priests to give importance to prayers and study. Pope Benedict has regular daily prayers at 3:00 in the afternoon followed by the Holy Rosary at 4:00 p.m. in the Vatican Garden.
The Holy Father also often advised us priests to have devotion to the Blessed Mother, the Bataan bishop said.
On Cardinal Tagle becoming the next Pope, Santos said “sa gabay ng Espiritu Santo, ito ang malaking pagpapalang tatanggapin ng Ina ng Simbahan sa Pilipinas. Sana, ito ay matupad.”
