Philippine Catholic bishops on Monday, Oct. 7 welcomed the elevation of Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan to the rank of cardinal.
Sixty-five-year-old David currently serves as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
In a statement, Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, who also serves as vice president of the CBCP, said Pope Francis’ selection of David and 20 others from around the world reflects his commitment to vulnerable populations.
“The Pope’s choice of Bishop David is consistent with his selection of cardinals who reach out to the peripheries,” Vergara said.
He highlighted David’s efforts in establishing mission stations within the Diocese of Kalookan to better serve the poorest of the poor.
Many parishioners in David’s diocese, which includes Caloocan, Navotas, and Malabon, are informal settlers.
To address their pastoral needs, he created an Urban Poor Ministry in collaboration with various church organizations.
Recognizing poverty as a root cause of human trafficking, he also launched a ministry focused on preventing exploitation and protecting vulnerable groups.
Bishop David is particularly concerned with the welfare of persons deprived of liberty, especially young offenders, viewing care for prisoners as a Christian duty.
He has been outspoken about the impact of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, describing how it has turned his diocese into a “killing field.”
To address the violence, he has taken steps to document the incidents through a dedicated team.
David also established a community-based drug rehabilitation program with three main components—patient care, family care, and community support.
Currently in Rome for the final session of the global synod on synodality called by Pope Francis, David, in his remarks on Oct. 4, cited the importance of addressing poverty in building a Church that serves the marginalized.
He said “local migration” from rural areas to cities poses a significant challenge to traditional parish structures, which typically serve established parishioners.
“If the poor don’t come to Church, the Church must go to the poor,” David said.
Vergara said David’s elevation also recognizes his contributions as CBCP president and his valuable work with the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences.
Pope Francis announced on Sunday, Oct. 6 a consistory for creating 21 new cardinals from around the world, which is set to take place in the Vatican on Dec. 8.
Cardinals serve as the Pope’s closest advisers and collaborators in the governance of the Catholic Church, but their primary role is to elect a new pope.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/6/cbcp-president-david-named-new-cardinal