Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) delivers a homily in a Holy Mass at the Baclaran Church. File photo/George Calvelo 

MANILA - A day after the announcement of his elevation to the College of Cardinals, Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David was quick to clarify that his new role in the Church is a responsibility and not an honor.

In a video released by TV Maria on Monday, the cardinal-designate said the most important character of his service to the Church is still his pastoral responsibility as bishop of his diocese.

"Ang pagiging cardinal ay hindi po ito honor. Ito ay isang responsibilidad," David said.

"Ako'y nananatili pa ring obispo. Para sa akin, 'yun pa rin ang pinakaimportanteng karakter ng aking paglilingkod sa Simbahan -- bilang isang obispo, obispo ng Kalookan."

(Being a cardinal is not an honor. This is a responsibility. I am still a bishop. For me, that is still the most important character of my service to the Church -- being a bishop, as bishop of Kalookan.)

Traditionally, cardinals are "princes of the Church" and are the closest advisers of the pope.

But the new Filipino cardinal, known simply as Bishop Ambo, said he views his appointment as Pope Francis's way of asking for help to bridge the local churches to the Universal Church.  

"Ang ibig sabihin pong sabihin para sa akin ng pagiging cardinal ay humihingi ng tulong ang ating Santo Papa na alalayan siya, suportahan sa kanyang gawain bilang Pontifex Maximus na ang ibig sabihin ay Supreme Bridge Builder -- ang tagapagtayo ng mga tulay na nag-uugnay sa particular church at Universal Church," David explained.

"Ito po ay pakikipagtulungan lang sa ating Santo Papa para manatili ang pagkakaisa ng mga local churches all over the world as one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church."

(For me, being chosen as cardinal means the Pope is asking for help to support him in his ministry as Pontifex Maximus, meaning Supreme Bridge Builder -- a builder of bridge that connects a particular church to the Universal Church. This is about collaboration with the Pope to maintain the unity of the local churches all over the world as one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.)

 Courtesy: TV Maria

Pope Francis made a surprise announcement during his Sunday Angelus prayer that he will invoke a consistory for the creation of new cardinals.

David along with 20 other clergymen from all over the world were handpicked by the pontiff.

In a Facebook post, the cardinal-designate recounted how he was enjoying a laid-back Sunday morning in Rome when he was informed of the pope's decision.

Initially, Bishop Ambo thought it was a joke.

But with the deluge of messages he received including video snippets of the pontiff's announcement, he slowly made peace with the latest development in his role in the Catholic Church.

'Like being caught in a whirlwind': How Bishop David found out Pope chose him as new cardinal

David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), was in Rome to attend the General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

The 65-year-old bishop will be the 10th Filipino cardinal in history.

Once he is officially created a cardinal, he will receive the traditional red biretta, a cardinalatial ring, and a title to one of the local churches in Rome.

David's elevation to the College of Cardinals would raise the number of Filipino cardinals in a future conclave to elect a new pope.

Bishop Ambo is set to join the ranks of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, currently based in the Vatican as pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.

Both Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, emeritus archbishop of Manila, and Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, emeritus archbishop of Cotabato, are over 80 and are ineligible to vote in a conclave, according to Church laws.

In a statement, CBCP Vice President Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara said the Filipino bishops are in great jubilation with the pope's choosing of David as cardinal.

Vergara said David's appointment is a recognition of his contributions to the  Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) and his active participation to the Synod on Synodality.

"The pope’s choice of Bishop Ambo is consistent with his selection of cardinals who reach out to the peripheries, given Bishop Ambo’s establishment of mission stations in the Diocese of Kalookan to better serve the poorest of the poor," the prelate said.

David is a known champion of human rights and care for the poor.

He fiercely opposed the violent campaign of former president Rodrigo Duterte against illegal drugs that saw thousands of suspected drug sellers and users killed, including in the bishop's diocese in Caloocan.

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Born in Betis, a district in Pampanga known for master woodcarvers of sacred arts, David is a prominent Bible scholar.

The 65-year-old bishop obtained his licentiate and doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.

Meanwhile, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Pre-Divinity from Ateneo and his master’s degree in Theology from the Loyola School of Theology.

Before having to run his own diocese, David served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Fernando in Pampanga. 

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