Head of religious order analyzes surprise Philippine cardinal selection
Philippines, 15 January 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.” Source: CWN