Investing the pallium on Archbishop Victor Bendico of Capiz, papal nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown said the entire church must seek the lost sheep.

The highly symbolic ceremony took place during Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Roxas City on Aug. 18.

In his homily, the pope’s representative said the role of every bishop is expected to seek the lost sheep according to Jesus’ example.

“The bishop is called to imitate the Good Shepherd in seeking the lost and bringing them back into the fold,” Brown said.

“The job of every bishop is to go and search for the lost sheep and bring them to the gate that is Jesus so they can enter in Jesus, through Jesus, and receive life, receive nourishment,” he said.

The pallium is a strip of white wool that the heads of archdioceses wear around their shoulders over their Mass vestments. It was blessed by Pope Francis at the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in the Vatican on June 29, 2023.

The ecclesiastical vestment represents the power which the metropolitan archbishop has by law in his province, in communion with the bishop of Rome.

Overall, it serves as a reminder of the role of the archbishop as shepherd to his people and their mission to spend their lives for the flock.

Pope Francis appointed Bendico, who was the bishop of Baguio, as Capiz archbishop on March 3 this year. He was installed to the new post on May 3.

The 63-year-old thanked the pope for the confidence in entrusting him with the office of pastoral care as archbishop of Capiz.

“Together with the bishops, the clergy, the religious and lay faithful of the ecclesiastical province of Capiz, we would like to renew and express faithfulness and obedience to the Holy Father,” Bendico said.