MANILA, (PNA)–An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will be attending a conference on peace in the Vatican.
Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action, said the invite came from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (PCJP) to attend the conference titled “Peace: new challenges.”
The event will be held on October 4, at the Domus Pacis, Via di Torre Rossa in Rome. It was organized in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Blessed John XXIII’s Encyclical Letter “Pacem in Terris” (Peace on Earth).
In an interview, Gariguez said he was invited to share his ministry among the indigenous peoples threatened by large-scale mining in the island of Mindanao.
The Filipino priest will deliver his speech during the session “Conflicts over access to resources (water, food, land and energy).”
“The teachings of Pacem in Terris, along with similar pronouncements in the social teachings of the Church, inspired and guided the Church of Mindoro in responding to the signs of the times and in seriously embracing our mission to pursue justice and common good, in our effort to bring about genuine peace,” he added.
In 2012, Gariguez received the Goldman Environmental Prize, a recognition given to grassroots environmental advocates.