Catholic Church mourns passing of Cardinal Vidal

Leaders of the Catholic Church on Wednesday extended their condolences and called for prayers for the eternal repose of Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who passed away in a hospital at the age of 86.

In a post on Facebook, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas extended his sympathies to Vidal's loved ones.

"Cardinal Vidal cannot die. He who has always shared in the dying and rising of the Lord daily in his priestly life cannot die. He now joins the immortal ones who served the Lord faithfully here on earth," he said.

"His wisdom and his humility, his love for priests and his devotion to the Virgin Mary must live on in us whom he has left behind. Rest well Eminence. Pray for us in the Father's House," Villegas added.

Villegas invited the faithful to join the wake for the country's most senior cardinal to be held at the Wednesday in the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Augustinian community of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu said bells will be tolled to call for prayers for the departed prelate's soul.

"The Augustinian Community of Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu is saddened by the demise of Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu, His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, DD, today, October 18, 2017," said Prior and Rector Pacifico Nohara Jr. on Facebook.

"We extend our condolences to the brother priests in the presbyterate of Cebu and one in our prayers for the eternal repose of His Eminence."

The basilica will also hold a Mass for Vidal on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Vidal was one of the country's four remaining cardinals.

His fellow cardinal Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said he sympathizes with the parishioners of Cebu in mourning, together with the entire Archdiocese of Manila.

"The Archdiocese of Manila is united with the whole Church especially the Archdiocese of Cebu in sorrow at the death of our beloved Cardinal Ricardo Vidal," Villegas said in a statement posted on his Archdiocese's Facebook page.

"We will always be thankful to God for sending us a teacher of peace and humility. We trust that the merciful Lord would grant him eternal rewards in His presence," he said.

Malacañang has also extended their sympathies to the Catholic Church for the passing of Vidal, with whom the Palace said President Rodrigo Duterte had a "friendly, cordial relationship."

On October 11, Vidal was taken to the Perpetual Succor Hospital in Cebu City for having "difficulty in breathing."

One of the Cardinal's doctors, Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, told GMA News Online that the time of death was 7:25 a.m. on Wednesday.

Vidal served as the archbishop of Cebu for 29 years until he retired in 2011.  —KBK/BM, GMA News