The May 2010 automated election is one of the agenda of the two-day Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines which ends Sunday, CBCP Committee on Public Affairs Chairman and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez revealed this Saturday.

He said the bishops might even issue a pastoral letter on elections after their assembly.

The CBCP traditionally issues pastoral statements after their Plenary Assembly.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, CBCP Media Director, said if ever the bishops will issue a statement on the May 10 polls, they might base it on the election guide earlier issued by the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL).

“If ever they come out with a statement on election, they might just get from the one issued by the family and life,” he said.

In the said guideline, the ECFL called on the electorate not to vote for candidates who are supportive of the Reproductive Health bill.

The CBCP official, however, is unsure if the bishops will be able to discuss other issues of national concern due to limited time.

“I’m afraid the time is very limited because there are 16 commissions that will also report,” said Quitorio.

Considered as the highest decision-making body of the CBCP, the Plenary Assembly meets in regular session twice a year in January and in July.

The 100th Plenary Assembly of the CBCP is currently being held at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center along United Ave. in Paco, Manila.

Meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI called on Filipino bishops to work for the sanctification of priests.

The Pope, in his letter to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the bishops’ role is to sanctify. And in order to do this, one must first tend to his own holiness of life.

“By preaching the Word, offering Eucharistic sacrifice, and administering the sacraments to God’s people, the clergy in your respective dioceses... may grow in holiness,” the letter read.

The letter was read Saturday by CBCP President Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar during the bishops’ 100th Plenary Assembly at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila according to an article posted on the CBCP website.

The Pope’s message was relayed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican’s Secretary of State, to the CBCP.

Bertone said the Pope is urging Filipino prelates to continue acting their role as the chief catechists of their respective pastoral jurisdictions.

This means, he said, that bishops must be willing always and everywhere to stand up and teach those in need of instruction and for them to “manifest ever more clearly the spirit of God at work in the world.”

In parting, Cardinal Bertone assured the bishops of the Pontiff’s “apostolic blessing” while commending their works for the Catholic Church.

Around 90 bishops are currently attending the plenary meeting which will end this Sunday.

The CBCP has a total of 130 prelates, 32 of them are retired.