Caritas Manila lay leaders, benefactors to receive Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medals

POPE FRANCIS has bestowed the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, Latin for “For Church and Pope” award to five Filipinos for their long and distinguished service to the church. The individuals are known for contributing to the success of the programs and activities of Caritas Manila, the Catholic Church and their worthy charitable and humanitarian works.

The awardees are Ramon del Rosario, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of PHINMA Corp. and vice-chairman of Caritas Manila; Fernando Zobel de Ayala, board director of Ayala Corp. and member of the Board of Trustees of Caritas Manila; Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman and president of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and member of the Board of Trustees of Caritas Manila; Maria Gonzalez Goolsby (in photo), former senior vice-president of UnionBank, professor and research director of Ateneo Professional School of Business, and one of Caritas Manila’s leading patrons; and Arnulfo Veridico, one of Caritas Manila’s long serving head volunteers.

Also known as the Cross of Honor, the decoration was instituted by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee. It was made a permanent distinction in 1898 that aims to reward people for their services to the church and the pope. It is one of the highest honors that the Pope can bestow upon the laity and the religious.

The conferment of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award will be held on Jan. 17, 2024 at the Manila Cathedral.

Archbishop of Manila Jose Cardinal Advincula extended his congratulations to the recipients for their “outstanding and generous service to the church.”

Caritas Manila Executive Director Fr. Anton CT Pascual expressed his gratitude for the steadfast dedication of the honorees.

“As Caritas Manila celebrates its 70 years of uninterrupted service to the poor and marginalized, we thank all our leaders, donors, and volunteers in ensuring our mission is sustained. We express appreciation in the long serving lay leaders of the church of the poor,” he said.