No such thing as ‘Vice Pope’, priest says
MANILA — Father Aris Sison, spokesperson of the Diocese of Cubao, clarified several issues circulating online about the possible rule of succession in the Catholic church as Pope Leo VIX remains in a hospital after lung surgery.
According to Sison, Pope Leo XIV remains the highest leader of the Catholic Church and there is no such thing as “Vice Pope” or “Assistant Pope” in replacement of a sick leader of the church.
”May mga nagtatanong, ano ang mangyayari dahil may sakit ang Santo Papa. Ang simpleng sagot, patuloy lang lahat ng bagay. Sa simbahang Katolika ang Santo Papa ay Santo Papa hangga’t buhay siya. Walang rules ang Canon Law of the Catholic Church kung sakali na incapacitated ang Santo Papa- basta siya pa din ang Santo Papa hangga;t buhay siya,” Sison told ABS-CBN News.
He said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was designated to preside over the mass on Wednesday for the closing ceremony of the 10th Amoris Laetitia anniversary.
“Lahat naman ng activities tuloy lang, kasi well organized naman ang Vatican. May ilang activities na naka-schedule – halimbawa, yung closing mass kahapon ng 10th anniversary ng Amoris Laetitia – si Pope Leo dapat ang manguna…dahil nasa ospital siya – dineligate (delegated) si Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle para mamuno sa pagdiriwang ng banal na misa,” Sison said.
Sison believes it is too early to talk about a possible conclave anytime soon.
He added that Cardinal Tagle, as the Dean of the College of Cardinals, does not make him a “Vice Pope”.
“Masyadong malayo yung speculation na yun. Unang-una, yung announcement nung Friday, October 9 – unang-una, tinanggap ni Pope Leo (XIV) yung resignation ni Cardinal Re ( Giovanni Battista ) – siya ang dating Dean ng College of Cardinals kasi 92-years old na siya at mukhang may sakit. Tapos yung Cardinal Bishops nag-election at yung naging resulta non si Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle ang na-elect nila, inapproved ni Pope Leo. So, wala naman akong nakikitang connection doon at hindi natin dapat pagdugtungin yun kasi, yung position ni Cardinal Tagle ngayon as Dean of the College of Cardinals does not make him a “Vice Pope” an “Assistant Pope”…walang connection doon,” he clarified.
What the Filipino faithful should do, according to Sison, is to continuously pray for the speedy recovery of Pope Leo XIV.
“Lahat naman ng mga bagay ay mukhang maganda ang lagay ng ating Santo Papa- ganon pa man, ipagpatuloy natin yung ating panalangin kay Pope Leo, ipanalangin natin na sana gumaling na siya at lumakas -dahil, siya ang ating Santo Papa, siya ang ating Pastol, siya ang ating pinuno sa simabahang katolika..marami pang gagawin si Pope Leo,” Sison said.
Meantime, couple Amy Rose and Emilio De Alban talked to ABS-CBN News after offering a prayer for Pope Leo XIV at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City on Thursday, October 15.
According to the De Albans, as Catholics, they are somehow affected and felt sad for the Pope.
“Naturally we are terribly shocked…we pray, every moment we think of him – siyempre he is our holy father. This is the Pope who’s smile shows humility, he’s very humble,” Emilio said.
“We are really very affected and very sad about his condition but we are always praying for him. In fact, everyday we pray for the Pope for his intentions also,” Amy Rose added.
A special prayer for Pope Leo XIV is being offered in every mass at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno – St. John the Baptist Parish or Quiapo Church in Manila.