Cardinal-designate Pablo Virgilio David, the Bishop of Kalookan, recently had a candid meeting with Pope Francis at the Synod Hall in Vatican City. The meeting occurred as David was in Rome attending the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, following his appointment as one of 21 new cardinals.
Upon introducing himself, David expressed surprise and gratitude, telling Pope Francis, “You’ve changed my life again!” Pope Francis, initially puzzled, recognized him and warmly acknowledged him as “one of the 21.” During their conversation, the Pope admitted he struggled with the pronunciation of David’s diocese, which David corrected with a smile.
David shared that he initially thought his appointment was a joke, given the lack of formal notice, to which Pope Francis responded with humor, advising him to take things lightly. The two shared a heartfelt laugh, and David pledged his support to the Pope, receiving his blessing in return.
David, who also serves as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), will be officially installed as a cardinal on December 8, 2024, becoming the tenth Filipino to hold this esteemed position. Known as “Ambo,” David has been a priest for 41 years and a bishop for 18, and has openly criticized past anti-drug campaigns and red-tagging in the Philippines.