Kalookan diocese ready for homecoming mass of Cardinal Ambo

The first mass of the bishop of Kalookan diocese as Cardinal is set to take place on Saturday morning, according to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News report.

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David will be joing by bishops and priests for the mass set on 9 a.m., Saturday, at the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan City.

“Let us come together as one community and offer our prayers for our bishop who has been elevated to the rank of cardinal,” the Kalookan diocese said in a statement.

CBCP News reported that Cardinal David, who is also CBCP President, is set to arrive Manila on Friday evening.

He was among the 21 new cardinals installed by Pope Francis during the consistory in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 7.

CBCP News reported that four new cardinals from Asia were named in the latest consistory, bringing the total number of Asian cardinals to 37 out of 253 worldwide.

"The cardinals are the closest advisers and collaborators of the Pope in the governance of the worldwide Catholic Church," the report said, adding that "among the roles of the cardinals is to elect a new pope when a pope dies or abdicates the papacy."

The College of Cardinals include 140 cardinal electors among them are David, Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization. — BAP, GMA Integrated News