Vidal in stable condition

ARCHBISHOP Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is in stable condition after he suffered a mini stroke last Tuesday.

The 82-year-old prelate is recuperating at the Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu City where he was brought after he experienced weakening of the body and slurred speech.

He had a “transient ischemic attack (TIA),” an episode caused by reduced blood supply to the brain, according to Msgr. Achilles Dakay.

Other medical experts describe TIA as a “mini-stroke”.

“Thank you for your concern for our beloved cardinal. He’s okay. We were told that there’s no cause for worry (about his condition). (But) let’s continue to pray,” Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma told reporters yesterday.

Palma said he visited Vidal Tuesday evening and the cardinal was already stable.

“He (Vidal) could already smile. As of the moment, let us not panic or worry. He’s all right now,” Palma said.

Msgr. Dakay, media liaison officer of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said Vidal suffered a TIA while he was inside his residence at Sto. Niño Village in Banilad, Cebu City.

Dakay said he was told by Vidal’s nurse that the cardinal’s condition is back to normal.

Last Tuesday, Dakay said Vidal had difficulty speaking at home. Thinking his blood sugar level might have gone down, Vidal was given chocolates. When his condition didn’t improve, his caregivers brought him to the hospital.

“He’s in the good hands of the doctor,” Dakay said.

Vidal was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Cebu in 1981 and was installed archbishop on August 24, 1982.

On October 15, 2010, his resignation as Archbishop of Cebu was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI. Vidal was replaced by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma on January 13, 2011.

Since his retirement, Vidal has been staying in his retirement house in Banilad, Cebu City./Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol