Cardinal Vidal hopes to stay
Feb 10, 2006
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said yesterday he has already submitted his retirement paper to Pope Benedict XVI but stressed that, if given the chance by the Pope, he still wants to continue serving as Archbishop of Cebu.
(tempo.com.ph, February 07, 2006) CEBU CITY – Vidal, who celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday, said his tenure as Cebu Archbishop now lies in the hands of the Pope but expressed his willingness to continue his apostolic works.
“If the Holy Father will allow me to stay and if the Cebuanos would want me to stay, I will stay (as Archbishop of Cebu),” the Cardinal said, before he formally opened the The Code of Canon Law requires that Catholic bishops are required to tender their resignation on their 75th birthday.
Vidal will remain as the bishop of the ecclesiastical area until the Pope accepts his resignation.
A source inside the Cebu Archbishop’s Palace, however, revealed that there is a big possibility that the Pope will not accept Vidal's retirement “because he is still very strong and able”.
Should the Pope accept his resignation, Vidal said he will stay in Cebu and continue serving the Cebuanos that have become “so dear to me.”
During the early morning mass he officiated on the day of his birthday, the Cardinal expressed his gratitude to the people of Cebu for continuously supporting him in all his endeavors and thanked God “for giving me strength and good health to continue serving the people”.
“I hope the Lord will grant me some more years to serve the people,” he said, when asked about his birthday wish.
Among the special guests who joined Cardinal Vidal yesterday was Papal Nuncio in the Philippines Archbishop Antonio Franco and several other bishops.
Cardinal Vidal and Archbishop Franco led the formal opening and blessing of the room that contains the Cardinal’s memorabilia located at the second floor of the Archbishop’s residence.
Cardinal Vidal was ordained on March 17, 1956 and 15 years later he was elected bishop.
Vidal earned his degree in Theology from San Carlos Seminary in Makati City after graduating with a degree of bachelor of arts in philosophy from St. Francis de Sales seminary in Lipa City in Batangas.
He was ordained priest on Mar. 17, 1956 and appointed bishop 15 years later during the time of Archbishop Carmien Rocco, then Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.
Vidal has led the Cebu archdiocese since September 1982.
Before leading the Cebu archdiocese, Vidal was assigned to different dioceses and seminaries and handled key positions, among them being the rector of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel seminary in Lucena City, spiritual director of seminaries in Lucena diocese, coadjutor bishop of Malolos, and archbishop of Lipa City.
Vidal also became the president of CBCP from 1986 to 1987, and then chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Clergy in 1989. From 1985 to 1994, he was convener of the standing committee of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences.
It was during his term as Cebu Archbishop that Pope John Paul II elevated him to the College of Cardinals during the Consistory of May 25, 1985.
Cardinal Vidal hopes to stay