Japanese Cardinal Maeda to represent Pope Francis in Manila Cathedral's 60th anniversary celebration
By Leslie Ann Aquino
Japan’s Cardinal Thomas Aquinas Manyo Maeda will be the representative of Pope Francis in the Manila Cathedral’s 60th anniversary (post war) this December.
Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda (VATICAN PRESS/ MANILA BULLETIN)
According to a Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News post, the archbishop of Osaka will celebrate Mass at the cathedral on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
“We thank the Holy Father Pope Francis for appointing Cardinal Maeda as his special envoy… as a sign of his paternal closeness to the Filipinos,” the Manila Cathedral said in Facebook post.
The current vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ), Cardinal Maeda also celebrated at the cathedral last April 12. After a month, he was named cardinal by the pontiff.
Born in 1949, Cardinal Maeda was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nagasaki in 1975.
Over the years, he served as a parish priest, editor of the diocesan bulletin, head of the diocesan Commission for Social Communications, and vicar forane.
He also served as secretary general of the CBCJ from 2006 until his episcopal election.
On Sept. 23, 2011, he was consecrated as bishop of Hiroshima.
Three years later, Pope Francis appointed him as archbishop of Osaka.
Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda (VATICAN PRESS/ MANILA BULLETIN)
According to a Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News post, the archbishop of Osaka will celebrate Mass at the cathedral on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
“We thank the Holy Father Pope Francis for appointing Cardinal Maeda as his special envoy… as a sign of his paternal closeness to the Filipinos,” the Manila Cathedral said in Facebook post.
The current vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ), Cardinal Maeda also celebrated at the cathedral last April 12. After a month, he was named cardinal by the pontiff.
Born in 1949, Cardinal Maeda was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nagasaki in 1975.
Over the years, he served as a parish priest, editor of the diocesan bulletin, head of the diocesan Commission for Social Communications, and vicar forane.
He also served as secretary general of the CBCJ from 2006 until his episcopal election.
On Sept. 23, 2011, he was consecrated as bishop of Hiroshima.
Three years later, Pope Francis appointed him as archbishop of Osaka.