The urn of Lagdameo was inurned Tuesday, July 19, inside the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Panay and Guimaras Islands after a funeral mass led by Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo.
Archbishop Charles Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, attended the inurnment to convey condolences on behalf of Pope Francis.
“The Holy Father imparts his blessing as a pledge of peace and consolation,” said Brown.
“He (Lagdameo) was really a personification of God – the infectious and contagious mercy of God, which is the heart of the gospel,” added Brown.
Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones delivered a homily as he personally recalled the days when he served as the secretary of Lagdameo.
“Our Angel had gifted to us through accompaniment by laughter towards faith, reconciliation, and transformation. He made people smile and in that eruption of laughter, the movement of the fire of the spirit triggers transformation for mission,” Billones recalled.
Lagdameo was born in Quezon in August 1940. He was ordained as a priest in 1964.
He was appointed in 2000 as archbishop of Jaro, which oversees Roman Catholic churches in Iloilo City, Iloilo, and Guimaras.
Lagdameo stepped down as archbishop in February 2018 after Pope Francis accepted his resignation.
He was CBCP president from December 2005 until December 2009.