Prophets for their people

Nearly 100 Catholic bishops from the Philippine’s are visiting Rome in three groups from November 25 this year to March 5 next year, for their "ad limina visit." The first batch of bishops from the world's third largest Catholic Church, concluded their pilgrimage Monday evening with mass in the basilica of St Paul’s Outside – the – walls, following their meeting with Pope Benedict earlier that morning.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan was chief celebrant at the mass. He says the bishops will go home renewed in their faith and ready to become “prophets for their nation”. He described their encounter with Pope Benedict as an “awesome experience”. “Listening to the words of Peter to the church in the Philippines. He asked us to be witnesses to our faith and prophets for our country and we will carry the message to the people as we go home”. Listen: