BEFORE he died, the late Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal left money that he had planned to donate to various causes, including a retirement home for ailing clergymen and nuns.
This, after Vidal’s last will and testament were read before church officials and the his relatives and household last month.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma confirmed to reporters yesterday that he and a handful of people read Vidal’s last will and testament at his house in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City last Oct. 28.
The reading was done a few days after Vidal was buried.
Aside from Palma, also present during the reading of the will was lawyer Julius Neri; Msgr. Raul Go, one of the Archdiocese’s canon lawyers; Fr. Joseph de Aquino, Vidal’s private secretary; his brother Juanito and Juanito’s two daughters; and members of his household.
In an interview yesterday, Go said Vidal’s last will and testament were updated in 2009, two years before he retired as Archbishop of Cebu.
In the documents, Vidal left an undetermined amount of cash he had deposited in banks in Cebu.
Vidal intended to have the money donated to organizations, including the Archdiocese’s social action arm, Caritas Cebu, and to a retirement home for aging clergymen.
But Go said the Archdiocese, the executor of Vidal’s will, cannot implement Vidal’s instructions as the Archdiocese needs to determine if the bank accounts that Vidal mentioned in the document still exist or are active.
Go said some of the banks mentioned in Vidal’s no longer exist.
Go said the Archdiocese plans to do an inventory of the banks mentioned in Vidal’s will.
Aside from money, Vidal also left some of his personal effects to various people and organizations.
His books were given to the seminary library, while his vestments were donated to the Archdiocese of Cebu.
Go said that anything that belonged to Vidal but not mentioned in his last will and testament will be given to his surviving family members.
But Juanito and his daughters reportedly manifested that any personal effect owned by Vidal that they will inherit be donated to the museum of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
No personal properties were mentioned in Vidal’s last will and testament, Go said.
As to Vidal’s retirement home in Barangay Banilad, Palma said the structure and property are owned by the Archdiocese.
As to Vidal’s personnel, Palma said they have been released from their employment upon his death.
When reporters asked Palma if Vidal left something for him in his last will, the Cebu Archbishop said his predecessor left him something valuable.
“He left me the Archdiocese,” Palma replied.
Following Vidal’s burial last month, Palma said they are now preparing for the 40-day novena.
On the last nine days of the novena, which will culminate on Nov. 27, masses will be held to honor Vidal. (JKV)