Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula has received his sacred pallium on Wednesday, Dec. 8.
The pallium is a vestment made of white wool only worn by the pontiff and by archbishops.
CBCP News said the Pope uses the pallium to symbolize the plenitude of pontifical office. For archbishops, it signifies the authority given to them by the pope over their respective archdioceses as well as unity with the Holy See.
Every year on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Pope blesses the pallium to be conferred to each new metropolitan archbishop at their respective archdioceses.
Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Advincula was not able to go to Rome last June.
That's why Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown conferred the pallium on Advincula during a Mass at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.
"He will be my responsibility as Pope Francis' representative here in the Philippines, to place the pallium on the shoulders of Cardinal Advincula today as a sign that he is to be an image of the Good Shepherd who seeks out lost shepherd and brings them home," Brown said.
"May this pallium be a sign of unity and a sign of your communion with the Apostolic See," he added.
Advincula said the pallium imposed on him symbolizes the communion we share with the successor of St. Peter, the Bishop of Rome.
"Blessed by Pope Francis himself...he sents us this pallium as a sign of confirming us in faith and supporting us in mission here in the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila," he said.
"Pope Francis remembers well our local church. He loves and cares for us and the pallium symbolizes his apostolic solidarity with all of us," added Advincula.
Pope Francis named Advincula as Manila archbishop on March 25, 2021 and was formally installed to his new post on June 24.