Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula met Pope Francis during a private audience at the Vatican in Rome on Thursday, April 21, according to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM).

RCAM noted it was the very first time that Pope Francis met Advincula as cardinal and archbishop of Manila.
On Nov. 28, 2020, Pope Francis proclaimed Advincula as cardinal in the consistory. He was then appointed as the 33rd archbishop of Manila and was installed on June 24, 2021 at the Manila Cathedral.
Per RCAM, Advincula also met by chance Most Rev. Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, archbishop of Reims Réélu during his audience with the pontiff.
Right after his meeting with Pope Francis, Advincula met with other officials at the Vatican.
As such, he had a courtesy call to His Eminence Giovanni Battista Cardinal Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.
RCAM said Re was the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops when Advincula was named bishop. Moreover, he was the one who looked into the life of then Msgr. Advincula, so that he could present him to Pope John Paul II in 2001 as Bishop of San Carlos in Negros Occidental.
Advincula also met with Her Excellency Myla Grace Macahilig, the Philippine ambassador to the Holy See; and His Excellency Most Rev. Lazarus You Heung-sik, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.
Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Gregory Ramon D. Gaston, rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino, said he was happy to see Cardinal Advincula in Rome and acknowledged Advincula’s effort to continue “molding priests to become effective in their vocation.”