The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced that Pope Francis has officially elevated Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan to the rank of cardinal during a consistory held at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Saturday, Dec. 7.
David, who also serves as the president of the CBCP, was among 21 new cardinals who received the “red hat” from the pope.
The consistory, Pope Francis’ 10th of his pontificate, included the formal appointment of cardinals from across six continents.
During the ceremony, the new cardinals recited the Creed, took an oath of fidelity, and approached the pope to receive the cardinal’s biretta, ring, and a document designating their titular church.
In his homily, Pope Francis encouraged the new cardinals to follow the example of Jesus, walking with humility, joy, and a passion for encounter.
The pope emphasized that walking in Jesus' path means returning to Him, fostering unity, and serving others, particularly those suffering or in despair.
Following the consistory, the College of Cardinals now includes 256 members, with 141 electors who will help choose the next pope.
Of these electors, 111 were appointed by Pope Francis.
David, 64, becomes the 10th Filipino cardinal in history.
Ordained as a priest in 1983, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of San Fernando in 2006 and bishop of Kalookan in 2015.
David has served as CBCP president since 2021 and was recently elected vice president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences.
He is also a member of a 17-member council overseeing the synodality process in preparation for the next Synod of Bishops.