Due to the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines will be held online for the first time from January 26 to 27, 2021.
Held every January and July, the plenary assembly is considered the highest decision-making body of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, which is currently headed by Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao.
When they are not in session, the bishops’ permanent council acts for and on behalf of the conference.
CBCP Secretary General Monsignor Bernardo Pantin said one of the items in the meeting is the presentations of the nine regional representatives of the permanent council.
“The report could include a general assessment of the region under quarantine due to the pandemic or recent calamities, responses and lessons learned and of any plan of action,” he told CBCP News.
New Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown is also expected to address the bishops for the first time during the meeting.
Other important agenda include this year’s celebration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.
The CBCP is composed of 86 active bishops, three diocesan administrators, and 43 honorary members.
The July assembly of the bishops was cancelled last year due to lockdowns and travel restrictions.