(Photo courtesy of Northern Samar Provincial Information Office)
TACLOBAN CITY – Vatican Ambassador to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the church and government.
Brown made this statement during his visit to Catarman on Wednesday, Jan.15, where he led the formal assumption of Bishop Nolly Buco as the third bishop of the Catarman diocese.
“The government is not the same as the Church. The church is not the same as the government. We have different functions, don’t we? But, and this is the important thing, when we work together,” Archbishop Brown said during a short program attended by provincial officials and leaders of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Papal Nuncio underscored that despite the distinct roles of the church and the government, their cooperation can bring about positive outcomes that benefit the community.
“Cooperation between the church and the government is so important,” he added.
Archbishop Brown visited the province to preside over the installation of Bishop Buco as the third resident bishop of the Diocese of Catarman. Bishop Buco was appointed by Pope Francis in October 2024 and previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese before his new assignment.
The Papal Nuncio was accompanied by a delegation that included several prominent church leaders: Bishop Francisco De Leon, Bishop Mylo Vergara, Bishop Ruperto Santos, Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, Bishop Oscar Florencio, Bishop Sofronio Aguirre Bancud, Monsignor Guiseppe Trentadue, Fr. Ric Marpa, Fr. Vjekoslav Holik, Sr. Leah Vinluan, and Fr. Lambert Ramos.
Provincial officials led by Governor Edwin Ongchuan, Vice Governor Clarence Dato, and 2nd District Congressman Harris Christopher Ongchuan, along with Diocese of Catarman Vicar General Gaspar Balerite, warmly welcomed the Vatican representative.
In his message, Governor Ongchuan highlighted the significance of Archbishop Brown’s visit, describing it as a symbol of the enduring bond between the Vatican and the people of Northern Samar.
“The visit of the Papal Nuncio to our province symbolizes the enduring bond between the Vatican and the people of our province, a relationship rooted in a remarkable history of shared faith, mutual respect, and a commitment to serving humanity,” Gov.Ongchuan said.
He further expressed that the event marks a renewal of hope for the community, especially with the installation of a new bishop to guide the faithful in faith and service.
“This event is a profound moment and renewal of hope for our community as we welcome our new shepherd to guide us in faith and service. As we gather here today, let this moment be a reminder of the enduring power of faith and unity,” he added.
Archbishop Brown’s visit underscores the continued relevance of church-government partnerships in addressing the needs of the people in Northern Samar, fostering hope and strengthening ties between religious and civic leaders.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
