After his engagements in Bacolod for the Masskara Festival, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte dropped by at Sunday midnight, October 22, in Cebu City to pay his last respects to the late Cardinal Vidal. The wake of Cebu’s Archbishop Emeritus is currently at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. He passed away last October 18.

Malacañan Palace declares October 26, 2017, a special holiday in Cebu to honor Cardinal Vidal

During his quick visit to Cebu City, President Duterte mentioned that he would declare October 26, 2017, a special holiday in the whole province of Cebu to give honor to His Eminence late Ricardo Cardinal Vidal on his day of burial.

Staying for about 30 minutes inside the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the President personally expressed his condolences to the relatives of Cardinal Vidal. Before leaving, he delivered a 15-minute speech in front of the crowd.

He kissed the coffin of the Cardinal before leaving the Cathedral and flying back to Manila.

Upon writing, Freeman posted on Facebook on the declaration of President Duterte making October 26, 2017, a holiday in Cebu Province. The updated was posted 8 hours ago. Check the post here.

Cardinal Vidal and President Duterte

Vidal became the Parish Priest of Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on August 26, 1981, and was installed as Archbishop of Cebu on September 18, 1982. The late prelate was elevated to the College of Cardinals on April 24, 1985, and also became the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines from 1986 to 1987.

On the passing of Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Palace condoles with the Cebu faithful on the demise of Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Cardinal Vidal had a friendly, cordial relationship. The good cardinal paid a courtesy call to Malacañan shortly after President Duterte assumed office and assured the Chief Executive of his fervent prayers for him and his administration.

The Malacañan Palace is thankful for the kind bishop’s pastoral role of the Catholic faithful.

The late cardinal will be buried in the mausoleum of Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on October 26.

He was 86.

Updated: The day of interment of the late Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal on October 26, 2017, has been declared a special (non-working) day in the Province of Cebu including the Cities of Mandaue, Cebu, and Lapu-Lapu through Proclamation No. 333.