Valles: To lead the inaugural prayer is God’s grace

“It was really God’s providence that set it all,” said Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, DD regarding his leading the ecumenical prayer during the inauguration of the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Three representatives from the Archdiocese were invited to grace the said event namely, Fr. Bong Gonzaga (parish priest of St. Francis of Assissi, Maa), Msgr. Paul Cuison (parish priest of Sacred Heart, Obrero), and the Local Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Davao himself, Archbishop Romulo Valles, D.D. The Archbishop said that he was not informed that he will be the one to lead the ecumenical prayer. He was simply invited and that was it.

But on the very early morning of June 30, he was very surprised to have received a text message from an unregistered number in his phonebook, asking him if he can lead the opening prayer. He sensed the urgency of the message. Immediately he replied “yes, just tell me what to do, and in whatever way I can help.” He added, “…there could really be a possibility to be asked to lead the prayer, but I really never expected it.”

As a result, many were elated to see him lead the prayer on TV. His mere presence in the event brought joy and assurance to thousands of Catholic Filipinos who might have been a bit worried as to the relationship of the Catholic Church and the present administration. He prayed for the nation and for the 16th president of this country.

Many took photos of their television screens and posted them on social media, with captions expressing their joy and gratitude to the archbishop for representing the Catholic Church on that historic event of our life as a nation. READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE PRAYER. (Cristopher Alcayde)