SW News: In Catholic-majority Philippines, believers are praying for the late pope emeritus. The head of the Catholic bishops Conference of the Philippines Bishop Pablo Virgilio David thanked believers for heeding his call for prayers for the former pontiff.

"I wish to thank all of you who accompanied him in prayer and offered special Mass intentions for his peaceful passage into eternal life. We will fondly remember him, especially those among us bishops, who had been appointed by him to the episcopal ministry,” said the bishop. Pope Francis is known as 'Pope of Mercy and Joy', Pope Benedict will be remembered as the 'Pope of Charity', he added.

Bishop David then went on to say how the pope emeritus spent the last years “as an emeritus pope in solitude and contemplation, supporting the universal Church and Pope Francis spiritually with his prayers".

Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Jose Advincula also presided over a special prayer service for the late former pontiff before offering New Year Mass on December 31 evening. In the cathedral, the Christ the King chapel has been turned into a spot of prayer for Benedict XVI and it has a picture of the late pope emeritus.

Across the archipelago, there will be a chain of Holy Masses and Office of the Dead for the repose of the soul of Benedict XVI before his funeral service on January 5.

Filipino believers will lovingly remember Benedict XVI as the pope who canonized Blessed Pedro Calungsod, a catechist and martyr, on October 21, 2012.  He will also be remembered by Filipinos around the world for giving the red hat to Archbishops Gaudencio Rosales and Luis Antonio Tagle. During the Ad Limina visit of the Filipino bishops in 2011, Pope Benedict had told them the Filipinos keep the legacy of being a living Church in their hearts.