Orlando Cardinal Quevedo of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. INQUIRER file photo
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The newly installed cardinal from Mindanao admitted Monday evening that his elevation to his new post in the Catholic Church hierarchy means greater responsibility in working for peace, harmony and development-building in Mindanao and the country as a whole.
In a dinner hosted by the city government for the honoree, Orlando Cardinal Quevedo of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate talked about the ways of peace-building, saying biases between conflicting parties could be shed off through prayers and individual initiative.
Speaking before a selected group of guests from the academe, business, religious, media, and local government led by City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr., Quevedo said he felt elated to be a cardinal and to be among the 120 advisers of Pope Francis, but he considered his elevation to the College of Cardinals as a challenge involving awesome responsibility.
“I am faced with inadequacy … that I need your help and prayer to work for the attainment of that common goal,” Quevedo, who would turn 75 on Tuesday, said.
He said he believed that peace and development could happen only in an environment of harmony and respect.
“Let’s get rid of our prejudices and biases that usually lead us to conflict and misunderstanding,” said Quevedo.
“We have had enough of divisiveness that led to violence and armed conflict. It’s time for us to come together to achieve a common objective of having peace, harmony and development regardless of political affiliation and religious beliefs,” Quevedo said.
The cardinal noted that at times, his ideas and actions were misconstrued as prejudicial, but in reality he said the goal has always been towards peace and co-existence, thus the need to pursue interfaith dialogues and peace gatherings not only in Mindanao, but throughout the archipelago.
Acknowledging the ways of God as strange, he underscored the need to continue reaching out to the poor and misguided through prayer and benevolent acts.
Of Quevedo, Mayor Guiani said: “He may be small in stature, but certainly a man with a big heart for the people of Mindanao.”
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