Emiritos Ricardo Cardinal Vidal (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
As Cebu’s well-loved prelate remains closely monitored at the hospital for pneumonia, prayers for his recovery kept pouring in for Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, 83.
According to Fr. Joseph de Aquino, Vidal’s secretary, the cardinal “can speak and is conscious” although they limited his visitors.
“If you ask if his (Vidal) condition is serious, I think so because he was advised to stay in the hospital. Serious, in the sense, that he’s suffering from pneumonia at an old age,” De Aquino explained.
“As of the moment, the doctors have no advise yet (to transfer him to a regular room). The cardinal continues to take antibiotics. With him inside the ICU is his private nurse and another nurse from the hospital,” he said.
Vidal, whose heart beats with the aid of a pacemaker, had previous major operations including a heart bypass and an angioplasty. At one time, he was also diagnosed of osteoarthritis and had to wear a neck brace.
Members of the Cebu clergy and lay persons yesterday expressed hopes that the cardinal will recover from the illness that downed him in the past six days. He is confined at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Perpetual Succour Hospital.
Msgr. Joseph Tan, media liaison officer of the Archdiocese of Cebu, enjoined people to keep praying for the cardinal who was rushed to the hospital last Saturday morning for irregular breathing patterns while he was in his house in Sto. Nino Village, barangay Banilad, Cebu City.
“Thanks be to God that Cardinal Vidal continues to respond to the treatment he is receiving for pneumonia. Let us continue to pray to the Lord for his speedy recovery as a sign of our affection for him,” said Tan in a text message to CDN yesterday.
Official updates on Vidal’s condition shall come from the office of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
Dr. Rene Bullecer, who stays with the cardinal at the ICU until 9 p.m. daily, said Vidal is doing well.
“Worst was last Sunday due to severe and excruciating pain. But today I should say that he is already 85 percent okay. No more cough, no fever although he has to undergo more tests by Friday. Thus, we have to offer more prayers for our dear cardinal,” he said.
Bullecer is one of Vidal’s private physicians. But after Vidal was diagnosed of pneumonia, the cardinal has been handled by a pulmonologist and a cardiologist.
Msgr. Ruben Labajo, moderator of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral’s team of pastors, said it’s an opportune time to pray for Vidal who served the archdiocese for 29 years before the latter retired in 2011.
“He is so dear to us clergy and laity. Now, he needs our prayers. So let’s storm heaven with our prayers. Let us all invoke the intercession of the Blessed Mother. That’s all the cardinal wants us to do at this time,” he said.
Fr. Jonas Mejares, rector of the Basilica del Sto. Niño, said he was deeply saddened after learning about Vidal’s condition.
“He has been a good shepherd to us. He has done a lot of good things for the people of God. I’m praying for his recovery,” he said.
Fr. Brian Brigoli, chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church, said Vidal has always been in his prayers.
“May he recover quick from the illness. May his health be restored,” he said.
Sammy Navaja, the archdiocese’s official photographer who has been with Vidal for several years, yesterday sent text messages, urging people to pray for the cardinal.
“Pls i-apil nato pag-ampo si Lolo Cardinal Vidal nga hatagan sya og maayong panglawas. (Let us please pray for Lolo Cardinal Vidal that the Lord will grant him good health),” Navaja’s text message read.
Margie Matheu of the Archdiocese of Cebu’s secretariat said she is hoping that Vidal will be healed from his illness so the cardinal can continue his mission in serving the Lord and the Church.
“I look forward to his (Vidal) presiding the Holy Eucharist on Jan. 30, 2016, the 7th day of the International Eucharistic Congress,” she said.
In September last year, Vidal was rushed to the hospital after he had difficulty speaking. He had suffered from a Transient ischemic attack or mini-stroke.
Vidal was discharged from the hospital a week after but was confined again because of difficulty in breathing. His doctors allowed him to recover at home a week later.
The cardinal served as archbishop of Cebu for 29 years before his retirement was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on October 15, 2010.
Vidal was replaced by Archbishop Jose Palma on January 13, 2011.
Related Story:
Vidal in ICU for pneumonia