19/09/2025
Pastoral Letter of the
Most Rev. Severo C. Caermare, D.D.,
Bishop of Dipolog
CORRUPTION IS NO MATCH FOR HOPE
Dear beloved people of God,
In these trying times, we are reminded of the wounds that corruption inflicts upon our families and communities. It pushes us to lose hope in individuals, agencies, and institutions whose functions are supposedly to give quality services and create better lives.
Yet in the midst of these challenges, let the words of the late Pope Francis reverberate into our hearts: Corruption is no match for hope. This is a message we should hold fast to as people of faith.
Hope is not soft, a fleeting feeling. It is a courageous virtue, a confident trust in the God who makes all things new. It is the heartbeat of the Gospel, the lamp unto our feet, and the fuel of our public life. When corruption seeks to cloud our vision, hope gives us sight – the sight to discern what is right, the courage to speak the truth, and the endurance to persevere for the common good.
Your active participation in peaceful assemblies and prayer rallies is a noble means to let your voices be heard and be counted: to demand that our leaders govern with integrity, accountability, and transparency.
We lift our eyes to the Lord, who sees every act, who judges with mercy and justice. After all, God demands not destruction but conversion of sinners (cf. Ez. 33:11).
May His Spirit soften hardened hearts and hear our righteous cry (cf. Ps. 34:17-18).
Benedicam Dominum semper,
(Signed)
† SEVERO C. CAERMARE, D.D.
Bishop of Dipolog