Phl’s newest cardinal to retire on March 11

MANILA, Philippines - Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, who became the country’s eighth cardinal on Feb. 22, will retire on March 11 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 75.

According to the Code of Canon Law, Catholic bishops must submit their resignation when they turn 75.

Quevedo was born on March 11, 1939.

“On March 11, I will be writing my letter of resignation to the Holy Father as Archbishop of Cotabato and when I said that, the (Papal) Nuncio just laughed,” Quevedo said in a television interview.

Canon Law expert retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz explained it would still be up to the Pope to accept or decline Quevedo’s resignation.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said a thanksgiving mass will be held in Cotabato on March 11 in honor of the new cardinal.

Margie Reyes, secretary of the Archdiocese of Cotabato Chancery, said they would celebrate Quevedo’s birthday and his 50th anniversary as a priest.

The first cardinal from Mindanao has been given a new moniker as “Cardinal Peace” by the CBCP in recognition of his involvement in the peace process.

Quevedo said that he will continue to work for peace in the south.

He has been silently involved in dialogues to attain peace in Mindanao, the CBCP said.

“I want to work for peace, yes, but not in the forefront. I want to stay in the background,” Quevedo said during a conference in Rome.