Due to the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the celebration welcoming Cardinal Jose Advincula as the 33rd Archbishop of Manila on June 24 will be simple without fanfare. In a virtual press briefing, Manila Archdiocese Chancellor said they were planning to have a simple installation for Advincula, highlighted by the ceremony to be held at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.
"The celebrations will be very simple. We will follow the liturgical guidelines. No fanfare,"Father Reginald Malicdem, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Manila, said in virtual press briefing, Wednesday, June 16.
"We will just be balancing between the celebration and being conscious of the situation because of the pandemic," he added.
Malicdem asked for understanding from the public as they will be limiting the number of people inside the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros during the activity.
"We beg the understanding of everyone so that we can ensure everyone's safety and we can observe the health protocols," he said.
"We wish to ask everyone to just join the celebration through the live streaming," added Malicdem.
The rector of the Manila Cathedral revealed that the whole Intramuros will be closed on June 24, and that only the guests and those who are part of the celebration will be allowed to enter.
Based on the schedule released by the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Manila, Cardinal Advincula will be formally welcomed to Intramuros at 8 a.m. by the Mayor of Manila and the Administrator of Intramuros at the Postigo Gate.
At 8:30 a.m., there will be a Civic Ceremony at the Ayuntamiento, the old city hall of Manila that now houses the Bureau of the Treasury, with the five mayors of the cities within the Archdiocese of Manila, namely, Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasay, and San Juan.
The Mass, which will start at 9 a.m. will be attended by the bishops of the Philippines, clergy of the Archdiocese of Manila, clergy from the Archdiocese of Capiz, government officials, representatives of religious men and women, the Council of the Laity of the Archdiocese of Manila, and the family and guests of Cardinal Advincula.