The Philippine Star

Vatican eyes Pinoy bishop as saint

- – Robertzon Ramirez

The Vatican has approved the “positio” of the late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot, which brings him a step closer to becoming a saint of the Catholic Church, a campaigner for the Filipino’s sainthood reported yesterday.

The positio is a study that details the life of the archbishop and his good deeds when he was still serving an archdioces­e, according to Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili, vice postulator for the canonizati­on of Camomot.

“The approval of a positio is a positive and joyful occasion that gives us hope that saints are there to help us, especially Archbishop Camomot, who is a Cebuano and Filipino,” Balili said over Radyo Veritas.

The Congregati­on of the Causes of Saints approved Camomot’s positio on June 17, or four years after it was drafted.

Balili said theologian­s at the Vatican would evaluate Camomot’s profile. The cardinals will submit their recommenda­tions to Pope Francis, who will give the title “venerable” once it is approved.

Once Camomot becomes venerable, a miracle of his holiness will be needed for him to go to the next process toward sainthood, which is the beatificat­ion.

Balili urged Filipinos to pray for the sainthood of Camomot, whom he considered to have significan­tly contribute­d in driving away locusts from the rice field during a time of pestilence.

Camomot will be the third

Filipino saint, after San Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod, once he gets approval of the Vatican.

He is the second candidate for sainthood. The other is Darwin Ramos, a street child who died from muscular dystrophy in 2012 and was declared a “Servant of God” by Pope Francis in 2019.

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