Ricardo Cardinal Vidal talks to reporters about his meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. (CDN PHOTO/ADOR MAYOL)
Hoping to bridge the gap between Catholic Church bishops and the new administration, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal on Wednesday visited President Rodrigo Duterte in what the prelate considered as a worthwhile encounter with the country’s top government leader.
In his wheelchair and accompanied by a private nurse, Vidal paid a 3-hour courtesy call on the president at the Malacañang Palace assuring Duterte of the Church’s prayers.
The meeting did not discuss controversial issues opposed by the Catholic Church like extrajudicial killings in the fight against criminality and plans to revive the death penalty but it was enough to establish a good rapport between the Catholic Church and the new president, Vidal, the country’s most senior cardinal, said.
Duterte had earlier criticized the Catholic Church for alleged sins committed by the clergy describing the Church, at one point, as the “most hypocritical institution.” He also lambasted some of the country’s bishops for supposedly attempting to convince the electorate not to vote for him in the polls last May 9.
And what could have been an uneasy encounter between the two prominent personalities turned out to be a long exchange of pleasantries.
“I opened the door of communication with his government,” said the 85-year-old Vidal in an interview at his retirement house inside the Sto. Niño Village in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City Friday.
According to Vidal, when he arrived at the Music Room of Malacañang, Duterte bowed his head and kissed the prelate’s hand.
“I didn’t want him to kiss my hand. Sabi ko sa kanya ‘Ako ang dapat mag-mano sa inyo kasi po kayo ang presidente namin. Pero sabi nya ‘Hindi! Mas mataas ka sa aking sapagkat kayo ay cardinal. Ako ay presidente for six years lamang. Kayo ay isang cardinal (I told him that I should be the one to kiss his hand because he is the president. But he told me, no! You hold the higher position because you are a cardinal. I am just president for six years while you are a cardinal),” Vidal narrated.
Vidal said Duterte was pleased when he heard him speak Cebuano.
“Pagsalubong ko sa kanya, sabi ko ‘Maayong gabii, Ginoong Presidente.’ At sabi nya ‘Oy, di ba ikaw ay isang Tagalog? Marunong pala kayong magbisaya.’ And I told him, ako ay nasa Cebu ngayon. At natuwa siya (When I met him, I greeted him ‘Good evening, Mr. President.’ And he said, ‘Aren’t you a Tagalog? Why do you know how to speak Bisaya. And I told him, I’ve been based in Cebu for sometime),” he said.
Vidal, a native of Mogpog, Marinduque, served as archbishop of Cebu for 29 years before he retired in 2011.
He attended the three-day assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in Manila over the weekend.
While at the nation’s capital, Vidal first visited Vice President Leni Robredo whom he described as a “very gracious and happy lady,” then went on to meet Duterte.
“He (Duterte) was very relaxed when I visited him. In fact, he was just wearing slippers inside Malacañang. I tell you, he’s very, very simple; a humble man. He’s easy to talk with, and you won’t be afraid to approach him,” Vidal said.
During their conversation, Vidal and Duterte exchanged jokes and spoke about their respective origins.
Had Duterte talked about some plans which the Catholic Church oppose, Vidal said he would have said his piece to the president.
“But we didn’t talk about any of his policies because it was just a courtesy call. And he didn’t open up any problem. Hindi na ako nakialam. Gusto ko lang siya makita kasi nakagalit niya ang mga obispo eh (I just wanted to see him because he was angry with the bishops),” the cardinal said.
Although they had met in previous occasions, this was the first time Vidal met and spoke with Duterte since the latter assumed the presidency.
Vidal said it would be better for the bishops not to exchange barbs with Duterte as it might not be good for the country and the Catholic Church.
“We need to have a good relationship with each other. That’s precisely the reason why CBCP didn’t make any statement after the plenary assembly,” the cardinal said.
“The president told me that he needs our prayers very much because it’s definitely not easy to be president of this country because there is a lot of work to do and problems to address,” Vidal said.
Vidal said he strongly supports Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs; however, solving the problem should be done in a legal and moral way without any shortcuts.
“Families are broken and the future of young people are destroyed because of illegal drugs. This has to stop,” the cardinal said.