Papal nuncio bids Filipinos farewell

Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto said he will be leaving the Philippines, his home for six years, with a heavy heart.

“I will be leaving Manila with a heavy heart but also a heart filled with gratitude to God for the gift of six years of grace lived here in the Philippines,” he said in his speech during his sendoff Monday.

“I could say I received (graces) during these six years much more than I gave… much more,” he added.

The outgoing papal nuncio said when he leaves he will bring with him memories of the Filipino people, who, in spite of their hardships and trials, remain resilient because of their faith in God.

“They do not ask God only to provide only for their material needs but rather abandon themselves to Him as their Father. They believe that God is greater than all their needs,” said Pinto, who is set to leave the country next week.

He also thanked the Filipino

bishops for their kindness and also assured them of his prayers.

“May you continue to lead these flock so dear to the Lord especially in these blessed years that lead to the celebration in 2021 of the 500 years anniversary of the evangelization of the Philippines,” Pinto said.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, in turn, thanked the nuncio for the memories and for his trust and confidence in the Filipinos.

“Wherever you are, know that you have a home here in the Philippines and you will always have a home in our hearts,” he said.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), thanked Pinto not only for his ministry but also for “showing the face of Peter and Jesus to Filipinos” especially when the country was hit by typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

“Thank you Archbishop Pinto for showing us the love of Peter. Thank you Archbishop Pinto for being a brother like Joseph. Thank you Archbishop Pinto for showing us the face of Jesus. As you move on to Croatia, please carry our love and I know as you have been a blessing for the Philippines, you will be a blessing everywhere you go. God be with you. Please pray for us,” he said.

It was last month when the news regarding the new assignment of Pinto as Papal Nuncio to Croatia was announced.

This will be his 7th assignment as papal ambassador ever since he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1984.

Archbishop Pinto, 65, has been serving as Nuncio to the Philippines since July, 2011.

Appointed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the archbishop is the 15th Papal representative and the 10th Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.