The superior general of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate has discussed
Pope Francis’s surprise decision to name Oblate Archbishop Orlando
Quevedo a cardinal. Archbishop Quevedo, 74, is the Archbishop of Cotabato, which is not among the Philippines’ 20 largest cities.
The last four archbishops of Manila, the nation’s capital, have been cardinals, as have the two predecessors of the current archbishop of Cebu, one of the nation’s five largest cities.
“By naming Archbishop Quevedo cardinal,” Father Louis Lougen told the Fides news agency, “Pope Francis is giving a signal to all of us: it is the recognition of a very committed missionary, a priest and bishop who leads by serving others, whose main concern is the Gospel and the poor and who has worked tirelessly to promote friendship between Christians and Muslims, to support their struggle to live together in respect and peace.”
Archbishop Quevedo “has always chosen to live simply” and “has always been very close to the poor,” Father Lougen added. “He is a man of compassion, joy, and generosity. Pope Francis is showing what kind of Church we are called to be by naming Archbishop Quevedo as cardinal.”