Cardinal Vidal steps down Jan. 13

MANILA, Philippines - Cardinal Ricardo Vidal is stepping down as archbishop of Cebu on Jan. 13 and replacing him is Palo, Leyte Archbishop Jose Palma.

The CBCPNews, the official news service of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said the Archdiocese of Cebu would install Palma, its fourth archbishop, on Jan. 13.

At 9 a.m. of Jan. 13, the 79-year-old Vidal would preside over the Mass and canonical installation of 60-year-old Palma.

Expected to attend the event are Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Papal Nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams.

The mandatory age of retirement for priests is 75.

The event is, in a way, considered as a homecoming for Palma who served as auxiliary bishop of Cebu on Nov. 28, 1997.