Health issue preventing Vidal from seeing Pope

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has written Pope Francis an “excuse letter” because his health is preventing him from coming to Manila for the pontiff’s visit.

Vidal read his letter, which was written in Spanish, during a press conference in his Talamban, Cebu City residence yesterday.

In the letter, which will be handed personally to the Pope by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, Vidal he has pneumonia and still feels weak.

“Excuse me of my absence. At any rate, I offer my sufferings, for his intentions and for a more fruitful visit to the Philippines,” Vidal said.

The country has only four cardinals, and Vidal, despite having retired, is still considered as one of the most influential personalities of the Roman Catholic Church.

Vidal said that he has met four popes in his life, but Pope Francis has set himself apart with his distinct characteristics.

“This pope (Francis) has something else that I did not find all the popes that I met in my life—the simplicity and humility,” Vidal said.

He recalled that when Pope Francis was elected as the head of the Catholic Church, the latter came out wearing old black shoes, black pants, black socks, leaving them all in awe.

“He was very simple and then he did not occupy the place three steps (above his audience), the chair was put down on our level. That means to say, he is practicing the humility of Jesus and giving an example of humility,” Vidal said.

Also, considering the very tight and strict security around the pope, Vidal said he has no idea at all if the latter will come to Cebu after his visit in Tacloban on January 16.

Meanwhile, a Christian youth group called government preparations for the papal visit later this week “superfluous yet steeped in hypocrisy.”

In a press statement, the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines said that while the government busies itself with tight security arrangements for Pope Francis, who will arrive in Manila Thursday afternoon, the Aquino administration has “all but forgotten the essence of the Pope’s visit.”

“Pope Francis is coming to the Philippines to spread the message of mercy and compassion, a message that goes beyond charity and giving alms, a message that is buttressed on the belief that there is a major flaw in the world’s capitalist order,” said SCMP spokesperson Einstein Recedes.

He said state officials are busy with security arrangements and carefully-managed itineraries for the Pope, even deploying thousands of soldiers and police as if the country is going to war.

But, Recedes said, the Aquino government is also actively attacking the Filipino people with “policies of state abandonment and unhampered neo-liberalism.”

“We welcome the Pope’s inspiring words, especially on his concern for the youth of developing nations, and his recognition of the dire situation,” he said.

“In the same breath, we condemn the Aquino administration for ignoring the plight of the poor, the jobless, and the hungry – even when Pope Francis himself has taken notice,” he added.  (FREEMAN)