‘Bible boxer:’ Pacquiao to hold retreat for priests

MANILA, Philippines—He may be jeered for this new job but expect him to roll with the punches.

Saying the Bible had changed his life, world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is hanging his gloves this Lent to take on a new task—to preach the Word of God to priests.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo on Saturday said Pacquiao is set to give a retreat to the priests of the Diocese of Marbel, South Cotabato, in his home on Tuesday.

“He will talk about the importance of the Bible. As we all know, he was transformed by the Bible,” Pabillo said in an interview.

“He no longer gambles and that’s because the Bible changed him,” he added.

Religious experience

Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David, chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (CBCP-ECBA), said that Pacquiao could share to the priests his religious experiences and how the Bible had changed his life.

“That would be nice. A recollection is really a sharing of religious experiences. His religious experience is really worth sharing,” David said.

Pacquiao was known to be a casino-goer but has since reportedly avoided gambling after having a religious experience from reading the Bible.

Earlier this year, Pacquiao said he had a dream after his fight with Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez last November that started him on the road to change.

Pacquiao said he dreamt that he was walking in a beautiful forest when a bright light shone on him and a voice asked: “Son, why are you going away from me?”

Pacquiao said he looked for the meaning of the dream and found answers in the Bible.

Bible envoy

David said the Church, which earlier invited Pacquiao to be its “Bible ambassador,” was willing to provide him with spiritual guidance to help him in his discernment.

“If he is interested in the Bible, we would want to make some priests available to him in case he has some questions to ask about the Bible,” David said.

“[When one] talks about spiritual experience, normally, you’ll ask if this is a message from God or not. This kind of conversation is what we call spiritual direction. You have to have a spiritual companion who would discern with you the signs to say if it is really God communicating with you,” the bishop said.

The CBCP earlier invited Pacquiao to help in their campaign to have the faithful read the Bible more often.

David said Pacquiao had reportedly agreed but the boxer had yet to personally confirm if he was available. Besides being a world-renowned boxer and legislator, Pacquiao also hosts a TV game show.