The country’s Catholic bishops and religious leaders acknowledged deep internal challenges while calling for stronger unity to confront Church failures and national crises. Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said the Church continues to struggle to live out its mission. Collaboration between bishops, religiousBishop Elias Ayuban Jr. of Cubao, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Mutual Relations Between Bishops and Religious, said participants openly acknowledged challenges in collaboration. “Today, we acknowledge the challenges in the areas of mutual relations and collaborative ministry,” Ayuban said, referring to bishops, clergy and consecrated persons. “This is a beautiful gathering that will strengthen the Catholic Church in the Philippines,” Espenilla said, pointing to communion and collaboration.