Cebu leaders back Palma promotion as cardinal

CEBU leaders yesterday voiced hope that Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma becomes the next Filipino cardinal in the Vatican.

“As our Archbishop, we are very proud of his nomination and we congratulate him. Archbishop Palma deserves to become the next cardinal of the Philippines,” Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.

Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama called the nomination “well-deserved” due to Palma’s strong academic and spiritual qualifications.

“Having another cardinal who is from Cebu is an attachment to our faith considering we are predominantly Catholics,” Rama said in a phone interview.

Human Life International (HLI)-Philippines director Rene Bullecer said while Palma may get nominated, it is still not sure if he gets the title soon.

Being next in rank to retired Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and the current president of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Palma will surely follow in Vidal’s footsteps, Bullecer explained.

“However, only the Holy Father can determine when this could happen. Because as what I know, there are currently enough number of cardinals. Maybe the pronouncement will happen in the next year, or two to five years,” he added.

The HLI country director said new cardinals are usually chosen after the death of their predecessors as noted in the past years.

“Vidal was appointed after the death of Julio Cardinal Rosales. And with God’s grace, Cardinal Vidal is still in good shape,” Bullecer said.

But as the only Catholic Asian nation, he said the country deserves more cardinals. Correspondent Jessa Chrisna Marie J. Agua