Pneumonia has downed Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal who has spent the last five days in the hospital battling the illness.
Vidal, 83, is confined at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Perpetual Succour Hospital.
Fr. Joseph de Aquino, Vidal’s secretary, said the cardinal had irregular breathing patterns while at his house in Sto. Nino Village in Banilad, Cebu City last Saturday.
“With the way he breathed that time, we thought he had asthma. But he didn’t have any cough or fever. And so we immediately brought him to the hospital,” De Aquino told CDN yesterday.
Upon the advise of doctors, Vidal, the Philippines’ most senior cardinal, was confined in the ICU for close monitoring.
“He’s conscious. He can speak. But we discourage visitors for now,” said Aquino who celebrates daily Mass inside the ICU since Vidal was confined.
Among the well-wishers were Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and several bishops.
“The cardinal continues to take antibiotics. I call on people to pray,” De Aquino said.
In 2004, Vidal underwent a coronary angiogram procedure, an examination of the heart and blood vessels, and had a pacemaker installed to monitor his heartbeat.
On Sept. 23, 2013 Vidal was rushed to the hospital after a mild stroke. He was archbishop of Cebu for 29 years before he retired in 2011.