A Catholic prelate has asked the faithful to start praying for good leaders in the May 2022 polls.
"It is never too early to start praying now for good leaders for next year’s elections," Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Archdiocese of Manila apostolic administrator,said in his homily in a Mass in Manila, Sunday, April 25.
"Now that the election is near, let us assess our leaders. Did they take advantage of their role? Are they richer in their role?" he added.
On Good Shepherd Sunday, Pabillo said people should also pray for good leaders in the Church.
"We see that there is a lack of shepherds in the church. Lack of priests, lack of nuns, lack of lay leaders. And not just lacking in numbers. There is also a lack of being good shepherds. We can all do something. Let us pray that God will send us shepherds, and good shepherds," he said.
The prelate also lamented the silence of Church leaders.
"Sad to say, Church leaders take refuge in silence. We are like watch dogs who have lost the courage to at least bark!" Pabillo said.
"In the church too we need leaders who are not concerned only about intra-church matters. There are so many in the peripheries who have to be reached out to, and not only the usual flock that we have," he added.
The Good Shepherd Sunday is also the World Day of Prayer for vocations.