Cardinal Jose Advincula marked his debut as the new Archbishop of Manila, on Thursday, June 24, with a prayer for the late former president Benigno S. Aquino III.

At the end of his solemn installation Mass inside the Manila Cathedral, Advincula called on the faithful to join him in reciting the requiem aeternam, or prayer for the dead.

“We were informed of the sad news of the passing of our former president of the Republic of the Philippines, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Let us entrust him to the mercy of our loving Father and let us now pray for the eternal repose of his soul,” Advincula said.

The former president died in his sleep at 6:30 am on Thursday.

In an official statement, Aquino’s sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada said the official cause of death was renal disease secondary to diabetes.

Advincula’s installation was set on the day marking the 450th anniversary of the founding of the City of Manila. It was also nearly 3 months after Pope Francis made the surprise announcement of his appointment. 

The mayors of Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, and San Juan – the cities under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese – were all present at the ceremony to welcome Advincula and to give him the symbolic keys to their cities. 

Photo by Jire Carreon/Rappler

But aside from news of Aquino’s death, the ongoing pandemic had already tempered celebrations for the new leader of Manila’s nearly 3 million Catholics.

Some customs, such as the greeting of the faithful, had to be foregone in adherence to health protocols. Attendance was also limited inside the historic cathedral.

Even an earlier ceremony bestowing his red hat, a symbol of the cardinalate, had to be postponed three times because of the pandemic.

Despite this, Advincula said in his homily that his installation came at “the day the Lord has made.” He gave a message of hope to the people suffering through the “scourge” of COVID-19.

“Some people may actually think that God has abandoned us. But instead, for us, steadfast believers, it simply shows forth God’s power in the midst of our helplessness; for we see God as our only help in our helplessness. God’s light shines on us in the midst of darkness; for the light of our faith allows us to see God’s mercy even in this long moment of darkness,” he said.

Advincula also pledged to be a “listening archbishop,” a reputation he built during his time as archbishop of Capiz, and enshrined in his episcopal motto of “Audiam” or “I will listen.” 

“My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, I have nothing new to tell you today, except my commitment to renew my heart’s desire to be a listening shepherd to the flock entrusted to my care: the priests, consecrated persons, and laity of the Archdiocese of Manila,” the 33rd Archbishop of Manila said.

Advincula also thanked Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who led the archdiocese as its temporary head for 16 months after former Manila archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was assigned by Pope Francis to a senior role in Rome. 

“These were not normal or ordinary months, but very trying moments especially in Metro Manila because of COVID-19. But Bishop Pabillo was able to steer well, was able to manage very well the archdiocese until today when it has been transferred to my management. So I thank very much Bishop Pabillo for the work well done,” he said.

In his message on behalf of the people, Pabillo gave words of encouragement to the new archbishop. “Do not be afraid. We are ready, as always, to cooperate and collaborate with our shepherds. You are not in this alone,” he said. – Rappler.com