Cotabato Archbishop the 1st Cardinal in Mindanao

Archbishop Orlando Quevedo is the 8th Cardinal in the Philippines, the first ever in Mindanao that was announced by Pope Francis on Sunday, January 12, 2014 as one of the 16 newly appointed Cardinals from 12 countries. It made a history for Mindanao.

“The 16 new Cardinals who are coming from 12 countries will represent the deep ecclesial relationship between the Church of Rome and other churches throughout the world” the Pope said in his announcement.

Quevedo was President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from 1999 to 2003 and one of the organizers of the Federation of Asian Bishops (FABC).

He was born on March 11, 1939 in Laoag, Illocos Norte. He finished his basic Education at Laoag Shamrock School, Marbel Elem. School and Notre Dame of Marbel-High School.

The New Cardinal attended San Jose Seminary from 1954-1956 but spent his novitiate in St. Peter’s Novitiate in Mission, Texas and completed his Philosophy degree in San Jose Seminary from 1957-1960.

On October 28, 1980 he was appointed Bishop-prelate of Kidapawan and the Bishop of Diocese of Kidapawan from 1983 to 1986 by John Paul II. From 1998 to the present he is the Archbishop of Cotabato.

The prelate also entered Oblate College and took postgraduate studies in educational management at the University of Santo Tomas, also took Theology of Religious life at St. Louis University in Missouri from 1976 to 1977.

As the first Mindanawon Cardinal, priests from different dioceses of Mindanao are truly proud of him.

“Archbishop Orlando Quevedo is one of most deserving Filipino prelates of  the honor and title of Cardinal,” Former Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla said.

He has served in a very remarkable way the Church in the Philippines, Capalla added.

Moreover Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle emphasized that he is extremely happy to have Quevedo as a confrere in the College of Cardinals where their collaboration and friendship nurtured these past 30 years will continue on another level.

“Let us all pray for the new Cardinals, that vested in the virtues and the sentiments of the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd , they might be able to help more effectively the Bishop of Rome in his service to the universal Church ,” Pope Francis said in his announcement.