Cardinal promotes simplicity, community

Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David wants to remain humble, saying there is nothing “special” about his new title.

“There is no special ordination for the cardinalate. I had not wished to be bishop, after being made a cardinal by Pope Francis,” David said, adding that it was “perfectly fine” for his parishioners to call him Bishop Ambo.

The cardinal is more locally known as “Ambo,” which in church terminology is the area at the altar where the Gospel and sacred writings are proclaimed.

David added that he will remain a bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan.

Cardinal David, who was promoted to cardinal last Saturday, 7 December, shared that he felt “a bit uncomfortable” as the people focused on him, during the beginning of the thanksgiving Mass.

“Everybody’s attention was on me. I pulled their attention to my pectoral cross; it is the cross of St. Oscar Romero. It was gifted to me on the 30th anniversary of the bishop who was martyred in El Salvador.”

He said that afterward, he felt relaxed as he marched towards the cross.

Families of the victims of extrajudicial killings were also present at the Mass, expressing their delight that Cardinal David had been delegated to a higher church position.

The cardinal was one of the most vocal church members during the height of Duterte’s drug war.

“I was very happy to see the EJK widows, they all came here, they have a home and family here,” he said.

In an interview, David said that as a cardinal, he will help Pope Francis crush the divisive walls and will create a “bridge of goodwill.”

“We learn to walk with one another, we should not be too sectarian,” he said.

Cardinal David continued that Catholics should learn to build unity with the other religions.

As he remains in Caloocan City, the cardinal said he will lead the Misa de Gallo at the San Roque Parish.

Various bishops and archbishops throughout the country attended the thanksgiving Mass, including Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown and CBCP vice president Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara.