Cardinal David expresses gratitude after receiving red hat

Metro Manila, Philippines — New Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David has expressed gratitude after receiving his red hat, elevating his rank from bishop.

Pope Francis led the consistory of 21 new cardinals, including David, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday, Dec. 7 (Manila time).

David thanked those who supported him.

“Gusto ko lamang magpasalamat, lalong-lalo na sa mga kapatid sa Diocese of Kalookan na nag-organize… bilang panalangin sa paghahanda ko rito sa Roma para sa konsistoryo. Maraming, maraming salamat po. Damang-dama ko ang inyong panalangin,” David said in a video message on Sunday, Dec. 8.

[Translation: I just want to give thanks, especially to my brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Kalookan who organized and prayed for my preparation in Rome for the consistory. Thank you very much. I felt your prayers.]

“Maraming salamat din sa lahat ng mga kaibigan, kakilala, mga kababayan sa Pilipinas na sumama sa akin sa pananalangin,” he added.

[Translation: Thanks also to friends, acquaintances, and fellow Filipinos who joined me in prayer.]

David posted on his Facebook account his reflection about the color red, noting that red is perceived as a “dangerous” color and is the color of blood. But he saw the good side of the color.

“Thank God we have instituted in the Church a Red Wednesday that calls attention to the plight of persecuted Christians around the world. It is a celebration that uses the color more appropriately—the color of martyrdom, the color of fearless prophetic witnessing, even at the price of so much persecution, or even at the price of death,” David wrote.

“It is the liturgical color we use to celebrate the passion and death of John the Baptist. It is the color we wear when we celebrate the passion and death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is the color that we wear to honor our courageous martyrs,” he said.

David said he is looking forward to his return to the Philippines.

He is the 10th Filipino cardinal and is one of the closest advisers of the pope. The new cardinal is the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines since 2021.