Cardinal David says Christmas Mass for political prisoners

MANILA, Philippines – Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan, said Mass inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, on Thursday, December 26, telling political prisoners that he wishes for a peaceful solution to the communist insurgency.

“[Cardinal David] also reiterated his desire for a peaceful solution to the ‘longest running insurgency in the world’ and for peace talks to resume to address the roots of the armed conflict,” said prisoners’ rights group Kapatid in a press release.

David, not yet cardinal at the time, also celebrated Mass in the same facility for political prisoners shortly after new year in January 2024, the first time that a Catholic Mass was held there.

“Cardinal David, you have clearly demonstrated your care for the welfare of persons deprived of liberty, including those illegally deprived of liberty, the political prisoners,” said Vicente Ladlad, peace consultant for the National Democratic Front (NDF).

“We hope that with your help and the people’s support, all political prisoners in the country will be set free,” Ladlad added.

The “exploratory” talks that the Marcos government opened with the communists in late 2023 have stalled, with some regressions shown by the fact that the Philippine government refused to declare a holiday ceasefire with the New Peoples’ Army, the armed wing of the communists.

David’s Mass for the political prisoners coincided with Pope Francis’ visit on Thursday to one of the largest prison facilities in Italy. Vatican said the jail visit was the first action by the Pope to mark the opening of a “Holy Door” for 2025.

“In bad moments, we can all think that everything is over,” said the pontiff. “Do not lose hope. This is the message I wanted to give you. Do not lose hope.”

The upcoming year is the Catholic Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee, which is considered a time of peace, forgiveness and pardon. The Vatican said it’s the first time to open the Holy Door at a prison since the start of the Jubilee year tradition in 1300.

Adelberto Silva, peace consultant for the National Democratic Front (NDF), said that the Cardinal’s visit will help spread awareness “about the many serious issues facing Filipino prisoners, so that we may gather strength to push for reforms in the prison and justice systems.”

– With reports from Reuters/Rappler.com