San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza yesterday said the appointment of Archbishop of Cotabato Orlando Quevedo as one of 19 new cardinals of the Catholic Church underlines the thrust of Pope Francis to reach out to those in the peripheries.

Alminaza said Quevedo will be “a great contribution of the Philippines and Asia to the universal Church. The Spirit is at work through Pope Francis' good choices”.

“The choice was unexpected but no surprise for me. Archbishop Orly is highly regarded by all of us. That he's from Mindanao and has extensive experiences of working for Basic Ecclesial Communities, plenary councils, synods, and the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences are most welcome,” he added.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra on Sunday said he was very happy with Quevedo's appointment, because Mindanao needs a cardinal.

He described Quevedo as a scholar and a good administrator.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has written to the cardinals that he is preparing to appoint next month, warning them to steer clear of "worldliness" and "celebrations" and telling them they should retain "a simple and humble heart".

Francis has repeatedly warned clerics against being ambitious and has curtailed the use of honorific "monsignor" titles as part of his plans to revamp the Vatican's scandal-tainted bureaucracy and finances.

“The post of cardinal is not a promotion or an honor or a decoration. It is simply a service that demands a wider view and a bigger heart," the pope said in his letter, made public by the Vatican yesterday.

He said the 19 new cardinals, who were named Sunday and will officially be appointed at a consistory on February 22, should make sure they follow the example of Jesus Christ -- "the path of humility".

"You should take up the post with elation and joy but make sure this sentiment is far from any expression of worldliness, any celebrations that are foreign to the evangelical spirit of austerity, sobriety and poverty."*CPG/AFP

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