Pope Francis names 9th Filipino cardinal
Pope Francis elevates Capiz Archbishop Advincula to the College of Cardinals
MANILA – Pope Francis in a surprise announcement at 12:00 noon yesterday or 7:00 P.M. Manila time, named Capiz Archbishop Jose Fuerte Advincula one of the 13 new members of the College of Cardinals.
Born on March 30,1952 and appointed third Archbishop of Capiz on November 9,2011 by Pope Benedict XVI, the new cardinal was ordained to the priesthood on April 4,1976 by Bishop Antonio f. Frondosa.
He was ordained to the episcopacy by them Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Antonio Franco and installed as Archbishop of Capiz by then Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Guiseppe Pinto on January 11,2012.
Of the 13 newly-elected members of the College of Cardinals, nine are under 80 years old and have the right to participate in a future conclave.
Said to be a surprise, the Holy Father made the announcement after the recitation of the Angelus yesterday. He made the announcement to the several hundreds gathered at St. Peter’s Square and those watching the live feed worldwide from Vatican News.
There are four cardinals from the Philippines but only two will participate in the future conclave. Former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle, now 63 years old, sits as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Cardinal Advincula is now 68 years old.
Former Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Borbon Cardinal Rosales is now 88 years old while former Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Beltran Cardinal Quevedo reached his 81st birthday last March 11,2020.
Cardinal Advincula is the ninth Filipino to be named into the College of Cardinals. The first elevated to the College was Manila Archbishop Cardinal Rufino J. Santos in 1960. He was followed by Julio Cardinal Rosales of Cebu in 1969, Manila Archbishop Jaime Lachica Sin in 1976, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Jamin Cardinal Vidal in 1985, then Nueva Segovia Archbishop Jose Tomas Cardinal Sanchez in 1991, Gaudencio Borbon Cardinal Rosales last March 25,2006, Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle on November 24,2013 and Orlando Beltran Cardinal Quevedo in February 22,2014.
The latest Filipino cardinal will attend the fitting rites this coming November 28,2020. (Melo M. Acuña)
Cardinal-elect Jose Fuerte Advincula, now 68 in CBCP File Photo.