Pope Francis elevates Pablo David, the tenth Filipino cardinal, in Vatican ceremony

Pope Francis officially elevated Bishop Pablo Virgilio David to the rank of cardinal during a ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday.

David, the bishop of Kalookan, becomes the tenth Filipino cardinal, joining Jose Advincula of Manila and Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization. During the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of New Cardinals, he received a red biretta, a cardinal’s ring, and official documents affirming his new role.

In his homily, Pope Francis reminded the 21 newly appointed cardinals of their mission to be “builders of communion and unity” within the Church, cautioning them against competition and fatigue.

“Let us not forget that being tired ruins your heart. Those who are tired are first to be corrupted,” the Pope said. “To walk in the path of Jesus means, in the end, to be builders of communion and unity.”

The new cardinals hail from various countries, including Argentina, Indonesia, Britain, and Canada. Of the group, 20 are under the age of 80 and are eligible to vote in a future papal conclave.

David, also known as Bishop Ambo, was ordained in 1983 and has served the Kalookan diocese since 2015. He is currently the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. His promotion to cardinal was first announced on October 6.

Reflecting on his new role, David previously met with Pope Francis, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Church in a higher capacity.

“You’ve changed my life again!” David reportedly told the Pope during their meeting, as shared in a statement by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kalookan.

Cardinals rank among the Pope’s closest advisers, tasked with supporting his vision of an inclusive and progressive Church. Pope Francis urged the newly appointed leaders to embrace humility and serve others.

“Love one another with fraternal love, and be servants to one another… servants of the gospel,” the Pope said.