By Rodolfo Dacleson II
(April 28, 2025) – Pope Francis declared 2025 as the “Jubilee Year of Hope” in his letter entitled “Hope Does Not Disappoint” in 2024, stressing that it is a time to “revive hope” as “God’s mercy is never exhausted.”
On Sunday, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David echoed the words of the late pontiff, saying God’s mercy is the “true source of hope.”
He added that individuals could learn to be merciful once they felt it, adding that such experience resonates with Filipinos.
“They (Filipinos) especially say it in the midst of dark and desperate situations—as if to say, do not lose heart. They say it because they draw strength from past experiences when they themselves almost gave in to despair but survived. They now stand as witnesses, encouraging others with their own story: ‘God is merciful, do not lose hope,'” said David in his homily on John 20:19-31 on Facebook.
David, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, reminded Filipinos to never lose faith despite the evils in the world.
“The key is not to hide, but to step forward—to lift the dark veil of fear and sorrow so that we may once again see the face of the merciful God. If you long for a happy ending, if you seek peace instead of anxiety, you must let Christ enter your heart and mind—especially when it has shut itself due to pain, injury, or fear,” added David.
He is among the 135 cardinals who will vote for a new pope when the conclave commences on May 7 at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
Pope Francis was buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, Italy on Saturday.
To recall, David was insulted by former president Rodrigo Duterte for helping the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings at the height of the brutal war on drugs.
In 2019, when David and other Filipino bishops visited the Vatican, he received the support of Pope Francis in his fight for justice and accountability.
David shared what the late pope said to him: “I want you to know that I know your situation. I know what you are going through. I am praying for you.”
(PM)
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