By SIDTP SoCom

Published on October 7, 2024

Habemus Cardinalem!

The Vatican announced on Sunday that Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Caloocan will become a cardinal in a ceremony led by Pope Francis on December 8, 2024.

The elevation makes David one of 21 new cardinals, making him the tenth Filipino to hold this title.

Bishop David serves as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and has been a prominent advocate for social issues. Known as “Ambo,” he has publicly criticized the previous administration’s anti-drug policies and instances of political red-tagging.

David was ordained a priest in 1983 for the Archdiocese of San Fernando. He became an auxiliary archbishop in 2006 and took charge of the Diocese of Caloocan in 2015. He has dedicated 41 years to the priesthood and 18 years to his role as bishop, holding a doctorate in theology from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.

In addition to his new role as cardinal, David was elected vice president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) and will officially take up this position in January 2025.

Currently in Rome for the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, David will join fellow Filipino cardinals, including Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who is active in the Vatican.

As he prepares for this important milestone, Bishop David remains focused on his mission to serve the Church and its communities. His elevation to cardinal reflects his ongoing commitment to advocating for justice and supporting those in need.