The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is grappling with a critical shortage of priests, with some clergy members serving as many as 9,000 parishioners each, according to officials at one of the country’s oldest seminaries.
John Alfred Rabena, chancellor of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Central Seminary, described the situation as unsustainable, citing mounting exhaustion among an overstretched clergy. “One priest is catering to around 9,000 Catholics,” Rabena said during a recent interview at the seminary’s historic art deco campus in Manila.
The discussion comes as speculation grows around two prominent Filipino cardinals—Luis Antonio Tagle and Pablo Virgilio David—being mentioned as potential successors to Pope Francis. Though church leaders are officially discouraged from campaigning, several Philippine clergymen have expressed hope that the elevation of a Filipino pope could reinvigorate interest in religious vocations.
Some believe such a development could provide a spiritual and cultural boost that reignites interest in the priesthood among Filipino youth. “A pope speaking Filipino, plain Filipino, talking to you like he’s talking to you directly… it will be an inspiration,” said 27-year-old seminarian Neil Peña.
Veteran activist priest Father Robert Reyes, who served as national vocation director of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from 1987 to 1998, said signs of decline in seminary enrollment have been evident for decades. “I was already warning the bishops that there were obvious signs of a decline in vocations, and how many years is that already?” he told AFP.
Despite the urgency, the CBCP does not maintain a formal database of seminary enrollment figures. However, the Church’s concern was underscored last November with the launch of its first-ever National Vocation Awareness Month, aimed at addressing what it called a “critical need for more priests.”
The dwindling numbers are attributed to multiple factors. CBCP spokesperson Father Jerome Secillano pointed to the long-lasting impact of the global clerical abuse scandals that came to light in the early 2000s. “Because of the sexual misconduct that happened in the Church, people entering the seminary started to dwindle. The impact of that is still being felt,” he said.
Yet others argue that cultural shifts and increased exposure to secular influences have also played a significant role. “Young people are so exposed to the secular world, with travel, with the internet and with social media,” said Reyes.
In a society described as “personality-oriented,” the presence of a globally recognized Filipino figure in the Vatican could be especially powerful. “If there’s someone famous, we gravitate towards the person and his actions, way of life,” Reyes added.
Rabena shared that his own calling to the priesthood was inspired by the 2015 visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines, following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan. Similarly, UST theology professor Arvin Eballo reflected on an era when nearly every Filipino family aspired to have a son in the priesthood. “They believed it was a blessing of God,” he said.
While the possibility of a Filipino pope stirs national pride and religious hope, Church leaders caution that such an event alone may not be enough to restore trust or reverse the decline in vocations. The road to recovery, they say, will require more than symbolism—it will demand genuine reform and renewed engagement with the next generation.
