THE family of the late Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal thanked Cebuanos and all people who joined them in their mourning.
Before the start of requiem mass yesterday, Karen Vidal-Rafanan, niece of Vidal, spoke before the congregation.
“We felt the warm and loving spirit of the Cebuanos. Our family is blessed,” she said.
Rafanan became emotional when she recalled life with Vidal.
“We will miss his smile, his laughter, his wisdom, his sense of humor and more importantly his passion for reaching out and instilling to everyone the gospel of the Lord. We all lost a father, a brother, a confidant, an adviser, a leader, a man of God that we will all forever cherish,” she said.
Rafanan, daughter of Juanito, Vidal’s younger brother, said they felt the love of those who sympathized with them, particularly the Cebuanos, even if Vidal was from Luzon.
“I was impressed because he, despite his being a Marinduquehanon, celebrated masses in Cebuano fluently. My uncle loved every place he was assigned,” she said.
Rafanan thanked the Archdiocese of Cebu, led by Archbishop Jose Palma, Pope Francis, bishops, priests and all church officials, workers and volunteers.
The family also expressed their gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte, who went to Cebu and paid his last respect to Vidal, and for declaring the day of his burial as a special non-working holiday, and the local officials of Cebu City and the province.
Meanwhile, several local politicians including Rep. Gwen Garcia (Cebu, third district), Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north), Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas and former Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide Jr. also paid their last respects during the burial of Cardinal Vidal yesterday.
Cebu City officials led by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and Councilors Dave Tumulak, Margarita Osmeña, Jocelyn Pesquera, Joel Garganera, Phillip Zafra, Pastor Alcover, Jerry Guardo and Eugenio Gabuya were also present.
Garcia said Cardinal Vidal was always her guiding light and inspiration throughout the challenges that she faced, particularly when she was still governor.
“When I was still governor, I would regularly visit him, especially when he was still the archbishop. And from him, I found comfort. When I was governor, I faced some issues and challenges but his calm wisdom his innate gentleness and kindness always somehow made my burden lighter because he was a guiding light and inspiration to me,” she said. (RVC)