Archbishop Garcera calls for stronger collaboration among Church offices

Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, urged Church officials to prioritize collaboration over institutional competition to advance the Church's mission.

During the closing Mass of a three-day interministerial planning workshop on October 29, 2026, Garcera stated that genuine synodality requires a change in attitude. He said officials must move from working independently toward seeking the common good of the Church. He noted that collaboration should be measured by how different offices recognize each other's contributions and serve their communities.

The workshop, held at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila, was facilitated by Garcera and the CBCP Secretariat. It brought together executive secretaries and sectoral representatives from various episcopal commissions and committees.