Head of religious order analyzes surprise Philippine cardinal selection
January 15, 2014
The superior general of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate has discussed Pope Francis’s surprise decision to name Oblate Archbishop Orlando Quevedo a cardinal.
Archbishop Quevedo, 74, is the Archbishop of Cotabato, which is not among the Philippines’ 20 largest cities. The last four archbishops of Manila, the nation’s capital, have been cardinals, as have the two predecessors of the current archbishop of Cebu, one of the nation’s five largest cities.
“By naming Archbishop Quevedo cardinal,” Father Louis Lougen told the Fides news agency, “Pope Francis is giving a signal to all of us: it is the recognition of a very committed missionary, a priest and bishop who leads by serving others, whose main concern is the Gospel and the poor and who has worked tirelessly to promote friendship between Christians and Muslims, to support their struggle to live together in respect and peace.”
Archbishop Quevedo “has always chosen to live simply” and “has always been very close to the poor,” Father Lougen added. “He is a man of compassion, joy, and generosity. Pope Francis is showing what kind of Church we are called to be by naming Archbishop Quevedo as cardinal.”
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Further information:
- The Superior General OMI: "With Msg. Quevedo, let us look at the Church of the poor" (Fides)
- Pope Francis names 19 new cardinals (CWN, 1/13)
- With new cardinals, a few surprises (On the News)
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