Ricardo Vidal

His Eminence Ricardo J. Vidal
Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu
Cardinal Vidal
Province	Cebu
See	Cebu (emeritus)
Appointed	13 April 1981 (Coadjutor)
Installed	24 August 1982
Term ended	13 January 2011
Predecessor	Julio Rosales
Successor	Jose 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	6 February 1931 Mogpog, Marinduque, Philippine Islands[1]
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 VERITAS ELEGI (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 (emeritus)

Ricardo Tito Jamin Vidal (Latin: Ricardus Vidal; born 6 February 1931) is a Filipino Cardinal-Priest and the Archbishop-Emeritus of Cebu in the Roman Catholic Church. On 15 October 2010 his resignation as Archbishop of Cebu was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI and he was replaced by Jose S. Palma, formerly Archbishop of Palo, on 13 January 2011.

Early life

Born in Mogpog, Marinduque to Faustino S. Vidal of Pila, Laguna and Natividad Jamin of Mogpog, Marinduque,^[1] Vidal studied at the Minor Seminary of the Most Holy Rosary (now Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary) in Sariaya, Quezon and the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City, Metro Manila. He also studied Philosophy at the Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, Lipa City. Ordained as deacon on 24 September 1955 and as a priest on 17 March 1956 on Lucena,Quezon Province by Bishop and Servant of God Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar, Vidal became the spiritual director of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary in Sariaya, Quezon.

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

Ministry

Vidal was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Malolos in 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 John Paul II appointed Vidal Coadjutor Archbishop of Cebu in 1981; he became Archbishop on 24 August 1982, succeeding Cardinal Julio Rosales.

Cardinal Vidal was a frequent collaborator with the Bishop Teofilo Camomot and bore witness to the native Cebuano prelate's claimed miraculous deed.^[2] Vidal also helped found the Catechist Missionaries of St. Theresa, a Catholic religious order.

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). A delegate to the Synod on Reconciliation (1983), Extraordinary Synod (1985), Synod on Priests (1991), Synod on Religious Life (1994), and President Delegate 1989 Synod on the Laity. Also a member of the Permanent Council of the Synod from 1989 to 1994. Cardinal Vidal's membership in the Roman Curia includes Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Congregation for Catholic Education, and Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers.^[3]

College of Cardinals

On 25 May 1985,^[4] he became Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Pietro e Paolo a Via Ostiense, and was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI,^[5] the only Filipino Cardinal to do so, due to Cardinal Jaime Sin's poor health.

His resignation as Archbishop of Cebu was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on 15 October 2010, and he was succeeded by Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Palo, who was enthroned on 13 January 2011.

Leadership in the Philippine Church

Vidal and Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal 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 result of the snap election.^[6]

In 1989 President Corazon Aquino asked the cardinal to convince General Jose Comendador, who was sympathetic to the rebel forces fighting her government, to peacefully surrender. His intervention averted what could have been a bloody coup.^[7]

In 2001, during the 2001 People Power Revolution Cardinal Vidal stepped forward again and asked President Joseph Estrada to step down.^[8] 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."

This followed recognition by the House of Representatives through House Resolution 593. The Province of Cebu give the highest award that a province could give, the Order of Lapu-lapu. Cebu City and Talisay City made him an "adopted son" of their city. In March 2009 the University of the Visayas granted him the title of Doctor of Humanities honoris causa.

References

1. "Philippines Civil Registration (Archives Division), 1902-1945; pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-26323-20610-60 —". Familysearch.org. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
2. "A man who learned to give it all | Cebu Lifestyle, The Freeman Sections, The Freeman". philstar.com. 2011-05-15. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
3. "Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, D.D". Cbcponline.net. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
4. Schanche, Don A. "2 Americans Among Cardinals: Pope Installs 28 New 'Princes of the Church'". Los Angeles Times, 26 May 1985. Retrieved on 23 May 2013.
5. BBC. "Cardinals taking part in the vote". 17 April 2005. Retrieved on 23 May 2013.
6. "Post-Election Statement". Cbcponline.net. 1986-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
7. "cardinal vidal says dialogue helped limit bloodshed during coup". ucanews.com. 1989-12-12. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
8. Marlen Limpag (2013-10-18). "Cardinal Vidal recounts many roles as Cebu archbishop". MyCebu.ph. Retrieved 2016-03-20.

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