Jose Advincula to be the ninth cardinal in the history of the Philippine Church
by Kenneth Corbilla

In an interview, the cardinal-elect said that his appointment only shows that Pope Francis can clearly see how priests in his archdiocese have worked hard to help Christianity grow in Capiz.

 


Manila (AsiaNews) – Archbishop Jose Advincula of Capiz, Philippines, is one of 13 new cardinals announced last Sunday by Pope Francis.

Born in Dumalag, Capiz, on 30 March 1952, the cardinal-elect attended the Saint Pius X Seminary in Roxas City and studied theology at the University of Santo Tomas, the country’s oldest Catholic and pontifical university.

Archbishop Advincula will be the ninth cardinal in the history of the Philippine Church, after Orlando Quevedo, Luis Antonio Tagle, Gaudencio Rosales, Jose Sanchez, Ricardo Vidal, Jaime Sin, Julio Rosales and Rufino Santos.

He will also be the fourth living cardinal with Quevedo, Rosales and Tagle; the latter is the current Prefect of the Congregation and the evangelisation of peoples. Because of age requirements, only Advincula and Tagle could vote in an eventual conclave.

In an interview with Fr Emil Bautista, also from the Archdiocese of Capiz, Mgr Advincula said he was truly shocked when he heard the news.

Expressing his gratitude to Pope Francis, he said: “I thank our Dear Lord and I thank our Pope for the responsibility he has given me. (Nagapasalamat ako knows well about diyos kag nagapasalamat ako aton Holy Pope can sing iya ginahatag under responsibility.)

The prelate noted that his appointment shows that Pope Francis can clearly see how priests in his archdiocese worked hard to help Christianity grow in Capiz.

Pope John Paul II appointed Advincula bishop of San Carlos in Negros Occidental in 2001. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI made him archbishop of Capiz.

He serves as vice chairman of the Committee on International Eucharistic Congress and the Office on Women.

Advincula shared the following prayer about this development in his life:

My prayer is that I am grateful for this gift of grace given to me by the dear God through our Holy Father, I pray for continued grace, to help me achieve my duties as archbishop and in this new responsibility. I always say to God to use believers, priests and me to keep His Holy Church.

Ang akon nga pangamuyo luwas nga nagapasalamat ako sa sining  pinasahe nga grasya gin hatag sa akon sang mahal nga Dios paagi sa aton nga Santo Papa, naga-pangamuyo ako sang padayon nga grasya, nga bulig nga matigayon ang akon mga bulhaton bilang arsobisoo ukon sa sining bag-ong responsibilidad. Siling ko pirme sa Dios, gamita lang ang mga tumuluo, mga kaparian, gamita ako para sa pagpadayon kang imo Santa Iglesia.