Cebu’s Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, 86

MANILA, Philippines — One of the country’s longest-serving prelates, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, passed away yesterday. He was 86.

Vidal died at around 7:26 a.m. at the Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu, where he was confined since last week, due to “infection leading to septic shock,” Joseph Tan, spokesman for the Cebu archdiocese, said.

“His body gave in to infection because of old age...his weakening condition…and many years of medication. We were hopeful that he would be able to fight this out…but the body just decided to let go,” Tan said.

Vidal had earlier suffered a mild stroke and underwent surgery for the installation of a pacemaker as well as a heart bypass and angioplasty.

Vidal’s wake will be held at the Cebu Cathedral. Church leaders have yet to finalize the burial.

A native of Mogpoc, Marinduque, Vidal became a priest in March 1956 and  was appointed arcbishop of Cebu in 1982.

He retired in 2011, but remained active in the archdiocese.

“Cardinal Vidal cannot die. He, who has always shared in the dying and rising of the Lord daily in his priestly life, cannot die. He now joins the immortal ones who served the Lord faithfully here on Earth,” Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in a statement. 

Icon of solidarity

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu approved a resolution expressing “sorrow and sympathy” to the family of Vidal and archdiocese of Cebu.

“He became...an icon of solidarity between the church and the government and had faithfully shepherded the faithful in the archdiocese of Cebu,” the resolution read.

Malacañang, Vice President Leni Robredo and senators also expressed their condolences to the Catholic faithful for the passing of Vidal.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said President Duterte and Vidal had a “friendly and cordial relationship.”

Abella said Vidal paid a courtesy call on Duterte shortly after he assumed office and assured the Chief Executive of “fervent prayers for him and his administration.”

Beacon of courage

Robredo said Vidal was a “true shepherd of his flock,” who provided guidance and calm assurance to the faithful during some of the most turbulent periods in the nation’s history.

“He was a peacemaker in times of conflict and beacon of courage in times we Filipinos were called upon to stand up for what is just and right,”she said.

“He was a leader of faith who embodied some of the finest qualities of that commitment – serenity in the face of turmoil, perseverance in the face of adversity and conviction in the face of oppression,” Robredo added.

Sen. Joel Villanueva said Vidal’s legacy would be “forever carried on through the lives of those he influenced.”

Sen. Nancy Binay said Vidal was “a rock and a foundation” of her family’s spiritual life.

“He was aware of the ills of the society...was never afraid to speak about them, and called out the country’s leaders for collective action,” Sen. Francis Pangilinan said. – Edu Punay, Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero, Helen Flores, May Miasco, Lorraine Mitzi Ambrad/The Freeman