Ricardo Tito Jamin Vidal ( la, Ricardus Titus Vidal; es, Ricardo Tito Vidal y Jamín; (February 6, 1931 - October 18, 2017) was a
Filipino prelate of the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...
. Made a
cardinal
Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to:
Animals
* Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds
**'' Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae
**'' Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, t ...
in 1985, he was
Archbishop of Cebu from 1982 to 2010.
Early life and education
Vidal was born on February 6, 1931 in
Mogpog
Mogpog , officially the Municipality of Mogpog ( Tagalog: ''Bayan ng Mogpog'') is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Marinduque, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 34,516 people.
History
In 1942, the Japa ...
,
Marinduque
Marinduque (; ), officially the Province of Marinduque, is an island province in the Philippines located in Southwestern Tagalog Region or Mimaropa, formerly designated as Region IV-B. Its capital is the municipality of Boac. Marinduque lies b ...
to Faustino S. Vidal of
Pila,
Laguna, and Natividad Jamin of Mogpog,
the fifth of six siblings. In 1937, Vidal received his first communion at the International Eucharistic Celebration.
He attended Mogpog Elementary School for his primary education.
Vidal studied at the Minor Seminary of the Most Holy Rosary (now Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary) in
Sariaya,
Quezon
Quezon, officially the Province of Quezon ( tl, Lalawigan ng Quezon), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region on Luzon. Kalilayan was the first known name of the province. It was later renamed Tayabas. In honor of the ...
, and at the Saint Francis de Sales Seminary in
Lipa,
Batangas
Batangas, officially the Province of Batangas ( tl, Lalawigan ng Batangas ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region on Luzon. Its capital is the city of Batangas, and is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and L ...
, where he studied philosophy. He also studied theology at the
San Carlos Seminary
The Royal and Conciliar San Carlos Seminary is the archdiocesan seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. It was established in the year 1702, by decree of King Philip V of Spain. At present, the institution houses seminarians belon ...
in
Makati
Makati ( ), officially the City of Makati ( fil, Lungsod ng Makati), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines.
Makati is the financial center of the Philippines; it has the highest concentration ...
,
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila (often shortened as Metro Manila; fil, Kalakhang Maynila), officially the National Capital Region (NCR; fil, link=no, Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the capital region, seat of government and one of three List of metrop ...
.
Ministry
Vidal was ordained a deacon on September 24, 1955 and as a priest on March 17, 1956 on
Lucena, Quezon Province, by Bishop
Alfredo Obviar.
Vidal became the spiritual director of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary in Sariaya, Quezon.
He was appointed
Coadjutor Bishop
A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) is a bishop in the Catholic, Anglican, and (historically) Eastern Orthodox churches whose main role is to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese. The coadjutor (literally, "co- ...
of
Malolos
Malolos, officially the City of Malolos ( fil, Lungsod ng Malolos), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 261,189 people.
It is the capital city ...
on November 30, 1971
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 Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...
.
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
appointed Vidal Coadjutor Archbishop of Cebu in 1981 and he became archbishop there on August 24, 1982, succeeding Cardinal
Julio Rosales
Julio Cardinal Rosales y Ras (September 18, 1906 – June 2, 1983), the second Archbishop of Cebu, was a Filipino cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. A native of Calbayog, he made his studies at the Seminary of Calbayog and was ordained in hi ...
.
Vidal was a frequent collaborator with Bishop
Teofilo Camomot and bore witness to the native
Cebuano prelate's claimed miraculous deed. 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
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines; ceb, Hugpong sa mga Obispo nga Katoliko sa Pilipinas;
bcl, Komperensya kan mga Obispo Katoliko kan Pilipinas; hil, Komperensya sang mga Obispo Katoliko sang Pilipinas; ilo, Kumperensya ti ...
(CBCP) from 1986 to 1987 and became Chairman of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on the Clergy in 1989. He was appointed 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
A congregation is a large gathering of people, often for the purpose of worship.
Congregation may also refer to:
*Church (congregation), a Christian organization meeting in a particular place for worship
*Congregation (Roman Curia), an administra ...
, the
Congregation for Catholic Education, and the
.
College of Cardinals
On May 25, 1985, he became
Cardinal-Priest
A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Col ...
of
Ss. Pietro e Paolo a Via Ostiense. He was one of the
cardinal electors
A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Col ...
who participated in the
2005 papal conclave
The 2005 papal conclave was convened to elect a new pope following the death of Pope John Paul II on 2 April 2005. After his death, the cardinals of the Catholic Church who were in Rome met and set a date for the beginning of the conclave to el ...
that elected
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereig ...
, the only Filipino cardinal to do so, because Cardinal
Jaime Sin
Jaime Lachica Sin ( zh, t=辛海梅, 辛海棉, poj=Sin Hái-mûi, Sin Hái-mî; August 31, 1928 – June 21, 2005), commonly and formally known as Jaime Cardinal Sin, was the 30th Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila and the third cardinal fro ...
's poor health prevented him from attending.
Leadership in the Philippines
Vidal and the Cardinal Archbishop of Manila
Jaime Sin
Jaime Lachica Sin ( zh, t=辛海梅, 辛海棉, poj=Sin Hái-mûi, Sin Hái-mî; August 31, 1928 – June 21, 2005), commonly and formally known as Jaime Cardinal Sin, was the 30th Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila and the third cardinal fro ...
supported the
1986 Philippine People Power Revolution. As Archbishop of Cebu and president of the
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines; ceb, Hugpong sa mga Obispo nga Katoliko sa Pilipinas;
bcl, Komperensya kan mga Obispo Katoliko kan Pilipinas; hil, Komperensya sang mga Obispo Katoliko sang Pilipinas; ilo, Kumperensya ti ...
, Vidal led the rest of the Philippine prelates and made a joint declaration against the government and the results of the snap election.
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.
In 2001, during the
2001 People Power Revolution Vidal convinced President
Joseph Estrada
Joseph Ejercito Estrada, (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor. He served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, the 9th vice presi ...
to step down. Estrada was later detained. Vidal along with Senator
Manny Villar
Manuel "Manny" Bamba Villar Jr. (; born December 13, 1949) is a Filipino billionaire businessman and former politician. He previously served as senator from 2001 to 2013 and as the President of the Senate of the Philippines from 2006 to 2008. ...
and House Speaker
Jose de Venecia Jr.
Jose Claveria de Venecia Jr. (), also known as JDV, Joe De V or Manong Joe (born December 26, 1936), is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, serving from 1992 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2008. As Speaker, he was the ...
wrote a letter appealing to President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...
to grant pardon to Estrada in the "spirit of national unity and reconciliation". Estrada was pardoned and released from detention on October 26, 2007.
Later life and death
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereig ...
accepted Vidal's resignation as Archbishop of Cebu on October 15, 2010. He was succeeded by Archbishop
Jose S. Palma of Palo.
In retirement, Vidal lived in Sto. Niño Village in
Cebu City
Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Sugbo; fil, Lungsod ng Cebu; hil, Dakbanwa sang Sugbo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines and capital of the Cebu Province. Ac ...
. He continued presiding at Masses and attending events organized by the Archdiocese of Cebu. He underwent a
coronary angiogram procedure and had a
pacemaker
An artificial cardiac pacemaker (or artificial pacemaker, so as not to be confused with the natural cardiac pacemaker) or pacemaker is a medical device that generates electrical impulses delivered by electrodes to the chambers of the heart ei ...
installed in 2004. He experienced a mild stroke on September 23, 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 October 11, and died on October 18.
Recognition
Vidal received recognition from the government. On December 7, 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."
He also received recognition from the House of Representatives through House Resolution 593. The Province of Cebu gave the highest award that a province could give, the Order of Lapu-lapu. The cities of Cebu and Talisay made him an "adopted son" of the two localities. In March 2009 the
University of the Visayas granted him the title of Doctor of Humanities honoris causa.
Calls for canonization
There have been calls for Vidal to be proclaimed a saint. Vidal was influential in pushing for the canonization of several Filipinos, especially
Pedro Calungsod
Pedro Calungsod ( es, Pedro Calúñgsod or archaically ; mid-1650s – April 2, 1672), also known as Peter Calungsod and Pedro Calonsor, was a Catholic Filipino-Visayan migrant, sacristan and missionary catechist who, along with the Spanish J ...
. Filipino Catholics have been urging that Vidal receive the same honor. During the necrological service at Vidal's wake, the Cebu City North District Representative,
Raul del Mar
Raul Veloso del Mar (March 20, 1941 – November 16, 2020) was a Filipino politician who served as the Representative of Cebu City's 1st district three times: from 1987 to 1998, from 2001 to 2010, and from 2013 until his death in 2020.
He wa ...
, called on Catholic Church officials to work for the canonization of Vidal, whom he describes to have lived a life of holiness and noteworthy humility that is worthy of sainthood. Among those who claim that the 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."
References
External links
Vatican Cardinal BioBiography at catholic-pages.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vidal, Ricardo
1931 births
2017 deaths
Filipino cardinals
People from Marinduque
Tagalog people
People from Cebu City
People from Laguna (province)
Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II
21st-century venerated Christians
21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in the Philippines
20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in the Philippines
Roman Catholic archbishops of Cebu
Roman Catholic archbishops of Lipa
Presidents of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines