Ricardo Vidal

Ricardo Tito Jamin Vidal (Latin: Ricardus Titus Vidal; Spanish: Ricardo Tito Vidal y Jamín; 6 February 1931 – 18 October 2017) was a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church. A cardinal since 1985, he was Archbishop of Cebu from 1982 to 2010.

For the Chilean long-distance runner, see Ricardo Vidal (athlete).

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Jamin and the surname or paternal family name is Vidal.

His Eminence Ricardo J. Vidal
Cardinal, Archbishop of Cebu
Cardinal Vidal
Province	Cebu
Appointed	13 April 1981 (Coadjutor)
Installed	24 August 1982
Term ended	13 January 2011
Predecessor	Julio Rosales
Successor	José S. Palma
Other posts	Cardinal-Priest of Santi Pietro e Paolo a Via Ostiense
Orders
Ordination	17 March 1956 by Alfredo Obviar
Consecration	30 November 1971 by Carmine Rocco
Created cardinal	25 May 1985 by Pope John Paul II
Rank	Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth name	Ricardo Tito Jamin Vidal
Born	(1931-02-06)6 February 1931 Mogpog, Marinduque, Philippine Islands[1]
Died	18 October 2017(2017-10-18) (aged 86) Cebu City, Philippines
Buried	26 October 2017 Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Mausoleum, Cebu City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Residence	Cebu City
Previous post	Coadjutor Bishop of Malolos and Titular Bishop of Claternae (1971–1973) Archbishop of Lipa (1973–1981)
Motto	VIAM VERITATIS ELEGI(lit. 'I have chosen the way of truth')
Coat of arms

Styles of Ricardo J. Vidal
Reference style	His Eminence
Spoken style	Your Eminence
Informal style	Cardinal
See	Cebu

Early life and education

Vidal was born on 6 February 1931 in Mogpog, Marinduque[2] to Faustino S. Vidal of Pila, Laguna, and Natividad Jamin of Mogpog,[1] the fifth of six siblings. In 1937, Vidal received his first communion at the International Eucharistic Celebration.[3] He attended Mogmog Elementary School for his primary education.[2]

Vidal studied at the Minor Seminary of the Most Holy Rosary (now Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary) in Sariaya, Quezon, and at the Saint Francis de Sales Seminary in Lipa, Batangas, where he studied philosophy. He also studied theology at the San Carlos Seminary in Makati, Metro Manila.[4][2]

Ministry

Vidal was ordained a deacon on 24 September 1955 and as a priest on 17 March 1956 on Lucena,Quezon Province, by Bishop Alfredo Obviar.[2] Vidal became the spiritual director of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary in Sariaya, Quezon.

Ordination history of Ricardo Vidal
History Diaconal ordination Ordained by Alfredo Obviar (Lucena AA) Date 24 September 1955 Place Lucena, Quezon Priestly ordination Ordained by Alfredo Obviar (Lucena AA) Date 17 March 1956 Episcopal consecration Consecrated by Carmine Rocco (Philippines Apos. Nunc.) Date 30 November 1971 Cardinalate Elevated by Pope John Paul II Date 25 May 1985

He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Malolos on 30 November 1971[2] and was consecrated bishop by Archbishop Carmine Rocco, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines. Less than two years later, he was appointed Archbishop of Lipa by Pope Paul VI. Pope John Paul II appointed Vidal Coadjutor Archbishop of Cebu in 1981 and he became Archbishop there on 24 August 1982, succeeding Cardinal Julio Rosales.

Cardinal Vidal was a frequent collaborator with Bishop Teofilo Camomot and bore witness to the native Cebuano prelate's claimed miraculous deed.[5] Vidal also helped found the Catechist Missionaries of St. Theresa, a Catholic religious congregation.

Vidal was President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from 1986 to 1987 and became Chairman of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on the Clergy in 1989. He was appointed as the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences's Convenor of the Standing Committee (1985 to 1994). He was a delegate to the Synod on Reconciliation (1983), the Extraordinary Synod (1985), the Synod on Priests (1991), and the Synod on Religious Life (1994), and also served as President Delegate at the 1989 Synod on the Laity. He was also a member of the Permanent Council of the Synod from 1989 to 1994. Vidal's posts in the Roman Curia included memberships in the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Congregation for Catholic Education, and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers.[6]

College of Cardinals

On 25 May 1985,[7] he became Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Pietro e Paolo a Via Ostiense. He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI,[8] the only Filipino Cardinal to do so, because Cardinal Jaime Sin's poor health prevented him from attending.

Leadership in the Philippines

Vidal and the Cardinal Archbishop of Manila Jaime Sin supported the 1986 Philippine People Power Revolution. As Archbishop of Cebu and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, Vidal led the rest of the Philippine prelates and made a joint declaration against the government and the results of the snap election.[9]

In 1989 President Corazon Aquino asked Vidal to convince General Jose Comendador, who was sympathetic to the rebel forces fighting her government, to surrender peacefully. His intervention averted what could have been a bloody coup.[10]

In 2001, during the 2001 People Power Revolution Cardinal Vidal convinced President Joseph Estrada to step down.[11] Estrada was later detained. Vidal along with Senator Manny Villar and House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. wrote a letter appealing to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to grant pardon to Estrada in the "spirit of national unity and reconciliation". Estrada was pardoned and released from detention on October 26, 2007.[12]

Later life and death

Pope Benedict XVI accepted Vidal's resignation as Archbishop of Cebu on 15 October 2010. He was succeeded by Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Palo.

In retirement, Vidal lived in Sto. Niño Village in Cebu City. He continued presiding at Masses and attending events organized by the Archdiocese of Cebu. He underwent a coronary angiogram procedure and had a pacemaker installed in 2004. He experienced a mild stroke on 23 September 2013. He was confined to the hospital multiple times beginning in 2014 for pneumonia. He was confined in a hospital in May 2017 for the same illness, given the Catholic sacrament of anointing of the sick on 11 October, and died on 18 October.[13]

Recognition

Vidal received recognition from the government. On 7 December 2010 the Senate of the Philippines recognized his service to Cebu by Senate Resolution NO. 306: "It is resolved by the Senate, to honor Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, for his service to the people of Cebu, providing spiritual leadership and inspiration, helping the community avert or survive several crises and conflicts, often acting as a peacekeeper and giving the voice of moderation amid clashing views and interests in local and national issues."[14]

He also received recognition from the House of Representatives through House Resolution 593.[15] The Province of Cebu gave the highest award that a province could give, the Order of Lapu-lapu.[16] The cities of Cebu and Talisay made him an "adopted son" of the two localities.[17] In March 2009 the University of the Visayas granted him the title of Doctor of Humanities honoris causa.[18]

Calls for Canonization

There have been calls for the late Cardinal Vidal to be proclaimed a saint.[19] It has been well known that Vidal was influential in pushing canonization causes of several Filipinos for sainthood, especially Pedro Calungsod. Filipino Catholics have been urging that Vidal receive the same honor. The Cebu City North District Representative, Raul del Mar, during the necrological service at Vidal's wake, called on the Catholic Church officials to work for the canonization of the prelate whom he describes to have lived a life of holiness and noteworthy humility that is worthy of sainthood. Among those who claim that the beloved archbishop lived a holy life was Senator Vicente Sotto III, who said to the news reporters as he showed a rosary given to him by Vidal, “Now, I have a new friend in heaven. He is praying for me.”[20]

References

1. "Philippines Civil Registration (Archives Division), 1902-1945; pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-26323-20610-60 —". Familysearch.org. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
2. "Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, D.D." CBCP Online. Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
3. "Cardinal Vidal as one of the First Communicants". International Eucharistic Congress 2016. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
4. Bueza, Michael (18 October 2017). "Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal". Retrieved 18 October 2017.
5. "A man who learned to give it all". philstar.com. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
6. "Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, D.D". Cbcponline.net. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
7. Schanche, Don A. (26 May 1985). "2 Americans Among Cardinals: Pope Installs 28 New 'Princes of the Church'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
8. "Cardinals taking part in the vote". BBC. 17 April 2005. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
9. "Post-Election Statement". Cbcponline.net. 13 February 1986. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
10. "Cardinal Vidal Says Dialogue Helped Limit Bloodshed during Coup". ucanews.com. 12 December 1989. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
11. Marlen Limpag (18 October 2013). "Cardinal Vidal recounts many roles as Cebu archbishop". MyCebu.ph. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
12. "Former President Estrada leaves prison, thanks Cardinal Vidal". AsiaNews.it. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
13. Mayol, Ador Vincent (18 October 2017). "Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, 86". Inquirer Visayas. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
14. "Senate Resolution No. 306 HONORING RICARDO CARDINAL VIDAL". senate.gov.ph. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
15. "Del Mar seeks House recognition for Vidal". Philippine Star. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
16. "Vidal to get province's highest honor". Philippine Star. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
17. "Vidal is now Talisay's adopted son". Philippine Star. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
18. "Cardinal Vidal expresses elation over latest award". balita.ph. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
19. "A call to sainthood in Cebu". manilatimes.net. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
20. "San Ricardo Vidal? Calls for possible canonization". sunstar.com.ph. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2018.

External links

• Vatican Cardinal Bio
• Biography at catholic-pages.com
• Catholic Hierarchy – Ricardo Jamin Cardinal Vidal
• Cardinal Ricardo Jamin Vidal at cardinalrating.com
• Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal at cbcponline.net

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Antonio Lloren Mabutas	CBCP President 1985–1987	Succeeded by Leonardo Zamora Legaspi
Preceded by Alejandro Olalia	Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lipa 1973–1981	Succeeded by Mariano Gaviola
Preceded by Julio Rosales	Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cebu 1982–2011	Succeeded by Jose S. Palma
Preceded by Franjo Šeper	Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Pietro e Paolo a Via Ostiense 1982–2017	Succeeded by TBA