Farewell, Cardinal
“A bishop is married to his church and dies in his church and is buried in his church.”
These were the words of Monsignor Joseph Tan, media liaison officer of the Cebu Archdiocese, the day before the late Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is buried at his final resting place today.
Tan said the bond between the shepherd, Vidal, and his flock, the people, conveys a deep meaning – what with Vidal's dedication to the church until the day he died last week.
From the time he was appointed head of the Archdiocese of Cebu, Vidal's life was serving the Archdiocese.
Vidal was appointed Coadjutor (assistant) Archbishop of Cebu in April 1981 and was formally named archbishop in August 1982, replacing the late Julio Cardinal Rosales. He retired in 2010 but continued to be active in church activities, even participating in the International Eucharistic Congress while already in a wheelchair.
On October 18, he lost his battle with pneumonia and sepsis, the latter condition arising when the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs.
Today, Vidal will be buried at the mausoleum right behind the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral that housed his remains this past week for the public to see.
Diocesan priest Erik Orio, a team member of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, said burying Vidal here is but fitting as he has dedicated his life to Cebu and the Cebuanos even if this was not his first home.
Vidal, the fifth of six siblings, was born in Mogpog, Marinduque on February 6, 1931.
“Although he is not born here, he spent and offered his life to us, Cebuano people, or his flock and that is what it means to be a bishop… the diocese (becomes) the wife or the bride of the bishop,” Orio said.
Explaining Vidal's red vestment, Orio said, “(This means) he is willing to give up his life for the church so even though he was in pain.”
Orio said he was lucky to have presided over the last Mass that Vidal concelebrated last October 10. It was the day after that Vidal was rushed to the hospital. Stories have it that Vidal was prepared of his death. “One of the sisters said that it was the first time the cardinal concelebrated the Mass that he was so prepared, he washed, he took a bath, (and) he chose his garments to wear,” Orio shared.
RESTING PLACE
The mausoleum at the Cathedral is divided into two. The outer part of the mausoleum is a bigger space with walls lined up with burial chambers that accommodate the remains of priests.
The inner part where Vidal will be laid to rest houses the remains of one cardinal and four other bishops.
Vidal will be the sixth prelate to be placed there. He will be laid to rest beside his predecessor, Cardinal Rosales, the second archbishop of Cebu.
Vidal's and Rosales' remains will be at the center of the mausoleum. To their right are the tombs of Lipa Archbishop Emeritus Mariano Gaviola; Cebu Coadjutor Archbishop Manuel Salvador from Dalaguete, Cebu; Calbayog Bishop Emeritus Sincero Lucero from Carcar City, Cebu.
On the other side, the skeletal remains of Bishop Juan Bautista Gorordo from Barili, Cebu – the first Filipino bishop of Cebu – are placed below the encased image of St. John, The Baptist.
The mausoleum was built as a private resting place for prelates and clergy of Cebu, either born or appointed to the archdiocese.