MANILA (UCAN): “It is my ardent desire to listen to all, especially the lambs which represent the youth and the people on the peripheries because of the least attention given to them by the Catholic Church sometimes,” Jose Cardinal Advincula said during his homily at his installation Mass as the new archbishop of Manila on June 24.
At the ceremony, celebrated at the \Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Intramuros (Manila Cathedral), the 69-year-old cardinal from Capiz became the 33rd archbishop of the country’s largest diocese and the sixth Filipino to hold the office, succeeding Luis Cardinal Tagle, who is now prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelisation of Peoples in Rome.
The event was attended by the papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, along with another retired archbishop of Manila, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, and apostolic administrator, Bishop Broderick Pabillo.
Several other bishops were also present as were a limited number of priests and civic officials in a ceremony that was scaled down in accordance with Covid-19 coronavirus precautions.
Likening the poor to lambs, he said, “They are easy prey for the wolves. I cannot feed my flock unless I listen to them first. While listening to them, I may be able to journey with them in their joys and sorrows, in their sufferings and glory, so I may bring them closer to Christ.”
The new archbishop shared his pastoral vision in his new diocese.
“I have nothing new to tell you except to renew my heart’s desire to be a listening shepherd. To my flock entrusted to my care, I have nothing to tell you today except by commitment to be a listening shepherd—a shepherd who knows each of his sheep,” he added.
“I am deeply aware of my people’s expectations of me. Like Moses and the prophet Jeremiah, I am not a good speaker. Despite my limitations, God has used them to be his messenger,” Cardinal Advincula said.
Meanwhile, in a video message shown before the installation rites Cardinal Tagle called on his successor to remember the heart of his mission. “Just be who you are. You are called by God. It is you who will serve. It is you who will give yourself as God’s blessing to his flock. Don’t worry, you are God’s gift. So be who you are,” he said.
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Cardinal Advincula entrusted his ministry to the Good Shepherd to grant him the strength not to abandon his sheep in times of trouble.
“Lord, use me. I beg you to grant me to have steadfast faith that you will always be with me … If the Lord were to use me as his herald, then that means I should listen attentively to Christ what he wills me to do with his sheep. Please pray for me that I may have a heart after that of Christ, the Good Shepherd,” he said.
Following his installation Mass, Cardinal Advincula and the other bishops present offered their prayers for former president, Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino, III who died early that morning at the age of 61, CBCPNews reported.
Cardinal Advincula said, “We were informed of the sad news of the passing away of our former president, Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III. Let us entrust him to the mercy of our loving Father and let us pray for the eternal repose of his soul.”
