Cebuanos pay tribute to Cardinal Vidal

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Despite the downpour, Cebuanos started trooping to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City at 4 pm Wednesday, October 18, to pay their last respects to the late Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

Vidal’s remains arrived at the cathedral, the mother parish of the Archdiocese of Cebu, amid the torrent of rain. He was met by priests, nuns, and mourning Catholic faithful who waited for hours at the cathedral after learning of the death of Vidal at past 7 am.

The surroundings of the church have been cordoned off to prevent vehicles from entering. Church and local officials anticipate a throng to come starting Wednesday night to pay their last respects to Vidal, who was Cebu’s cardinal for more than 3 decades.

A native of Mogpog, Marinduque, Vidal was appointed by Pope John Paul II Coadjutor Archbishop of Cebu in 1981. He became Archbishop on August 24, 1982, succeeding Cardinal Julio Rosales.

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral parish priest Monsignor Ruben Labajo said Vidal’s wake in the cathedral will run until Friday, October 20. He will then be transferred to the Pedro Calungsod chapel inside the Cebu Archdiocese compound.

The date of interment has not been officially set as of this posting.

Among those who first paid their last respects to the cardinal were Monsignor Achilles Dakay, who was media information officer during Vidal’s term and a close friend for over 25 years, and Vidal’s 84-year-old brother Juanito. – Rappler.com