David on elevation to cardinal: No big deal

His elevation into the College of Cardinals was "no big deal" for the Philippines' 10th cardinal, said Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David.

- Ghio Ong

In his homily during a thanksgiving mass at the San Roque Cathedral Parish in Caloocan City yesterday, David said he was asked about how he was coping with what was happening in his life since Pope Francis declared him as one of the 21 new cardinals or princes of the Catholic Church last October.

"I said I took the consistory in Rome and being made a cardinal is no different from any other ordinary day in my life. No big deal," said the new cardinal, who is also the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

David flew home to the Philippines past midnight yesterday after Pope Francis made him a cardinal during the event.

called "Ordinary Public Consistory For The Creation Of New Cardinals" at St. Peter's Basilica last Dec. 7.