Pablo Virgilio David

Pablo Virgilio David was born in Betis, Guagua, Pampanga, on March 2, 1959. He is the 10th of the 13 children of Pedro David and Bienvenida Siongco.{{cite news|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/04/04/1907256/bishop-david-defends-mom-after-duterte-calls-him-son-whore|title=Bishop David defends mom after Duterte calls him 'son of a whore'|first=Kristine Joy|last=Patag|date=April 4, 2019|accessdate=December 13, 2022|work=The Philippine Star}} One of his siblings is the sociologist and public intellectual Randy David.{{cite news|url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/119902/ambo-60|title=Ambo @60 |first=Randy |last=David |author-link=Randy David |date=March 3, 2019|accessdate=December 13, 2022|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} He determined his vocation early and asked to attend the minor seminary at the age of ten.{{cite news| access-date= January 12, 2025 | url= https://aleteia.org/2024/12/10/meet-bishop-ambo-david-churchs-new-leader-in-philippines | work= Aleteia | date = December 10, 2024 | title= Meet Bishop 'Ambo' David, Church's new leader in Philippines }} From 1970 to 1974 he attended Mother of Good Counsel Minor Seminary in San Fernando, Pampanga, for his secondary education. He earned his bachelor's degree in pre-divinity studies from Ateneo de Manila University in 1978, studied for several years at San Jose Seminary in Loyola Heights, Quezon City, and received his master's degree in theology from the Loyola School of Theology in 1984.{{cite web | publisher = UCA News | access-date = January 27, 2025 | title =Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David |url = https://www.ucanews.com/directory/previous/bishop-pablo-virgilio-siongco-david/2118 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220808045154/https://www.ucanews.com/directory/previous/bishop-pablo-virgilio-siongco-david/2118 | archive-date= August 8, 2022 | url-status = live}} During his student years he participated in demonstrations against the Marcos dictatorship.

David was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of San Fernando by Archbishop Oscar Cruz on March 12, 1983. He worked first for a year as an assistant pastor, where he continued his anti-government political activities. He then became director of his alma mater, Mother of Good Counsel Seminary, until 1986. From 1986 to 1991, he studied abroad, earning a licentiate and then a doctorate in sacred theology from the Catholic University of Louvain, a school he chose because of its "progressive" reputation, and he studied at the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem, where he learned Aramaic to enable him to continue his scholarly work on the Book of Daniel.

Returning to the Philippines, David held various leadership and teaching roles at Mother of Good Counsel Seminary. In 2002, he became director of the seminary's Theology Department, while continuing to teach Sacred Scripture. Also in 2002, he was elected vice-president of the Association of Catholic Biblical Scholars of the Philippines and vice-president of the Archdiocesan Media Apostolate Networks.

File:Cardinal Pablo Virgilio S. David.jpg

On May 27, 2006, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to be auxiliary bishop of San Fernando and titular bishop of the Guardialfiera.{{cite press release | language = it | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2006/05/27/0273/00817.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = January 12, 2025 | date = May 27, 2007 | title = Rinunce e nomine, 27.05.2006}}{{cite web |title=Bishop of Kalookan Diocese Pablo Virgilio Siongco David|url=https://www.ucanews.com/directory/bishops/bishop-david/808 |website=UCA News |access-date= July 8, 2021}} He was consecrated as a bishop by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio Borbon Rosales, with San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo as co-consecrators.{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bsiong|Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David|July 8, 2021}}

In 2008, David was one of five bishops elected by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to attend the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in October. He also won back control of shrine at Apung Mamacalulu from the private interests that owned the site of the chapel and commercialized it. He made it a site for popular pilgrimages and initiated the celebration of Mass there, which had previously been prohibited.{{cite book | access-date= January 12, 2025| chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qhf-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA29 | title = The Gospel of Mercy According to Juan/a| chapter= Merciful like 'Apu' | author= Ambo David | publisher= StPauls | date=2016| pages= 29ff| isbn=978-971-004-293-7 }}

Pope Francis named David as the second Bishop of Kalookan on October 14, 2015, succeeding Deogracias Iñiguez Jr.{{cite press release | language = it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2015/10/14/0783/01711.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = January 12, 2025 | date = October 14, 2015 | title = Rinunce e nomine, 14.10.2015}}{{cite news |last1=Depasupil |first1=William |title=Staunch Duterte critic named CBCP president |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/07/08/news/staunch-duterte-critic-named-cbcp-president/1806226 |access-date=July 8, 2021 |work=The Manila Times |date=July 8, 2021 |language=en}} David was installed in the Cathedral of San Roque on January 2, 2016. He also took on the responsibilities of pastor of the cathedral parish.{{cite web | url = https://dioceseofkalookan.ph/history/ | title = History | website = Diocese of Kalookan | access-date = January 12, 2025 }}

He has served as a member of the CBCP's Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate, and he was elected to a four-year term as that organization's vice president in December 2017.{{cite news |last1=Gregorio |first1=Xave |title='Drug war' critic Bishop David elected CBCP president |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/07/08/2111067/drug-war-critic-bishop-david-elected-cbcp-president |access-date=July 8, 2021 |work=The Philippine Star|date=July 8, 2021}}

David has been a critic of President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.{{cite news |title=Bishop critical of Duterte drug war is new CBCP president |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/08/21/pablo-david-cbcp-president-duterte-drug-war-death-threats |access-date= July 8, 2021 |work=ABS-CBN News |date= July 8, 2021 |language=en}} On July 19, 2019, the PNP–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed charges against David, fellow bishops Honesto Ongtioco and Socrates Villegas, and members of the opposition for "sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice".{{cite news |title=Robredo, ilang taga-oposisyon kinasuhan ng PNP-CIDG ukol sa 'Bikoy' videos |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/07/19/19/robredo-ilang-taga-oposisyon-kinasuhan-ng-pnp-cidg-ukol-sa-bikoy-videos |date=July 19, 2019|work=ABS-CBN News |language=Tagalog}}{{cite news |title=Sedition raps: Solons, bishop hit 'stupid' PNP |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1143908/sedition-raps-solons-bishop-hit-stupid-pnp |accessdate=July 20, 2019 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} The charges were dropped in 2020.{{cite news |title=Prosecutors drop sedition charges against Philippine bishops |url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/prosecutors-drop-sedition-charges-against-philippine-bishops/87196 |accessdate=October 6, 2024 |work=Union of Catholic Asian News}}

In 2019, the University of Manila awarded him its Buka Palad prize for his service to the poor and his advocacy for fight social justice.

David was elected president of CBCP by its 130 members on July 8, 2021, succeeding former president Archbishop Romulo Valles on December 1, 2021.{{cite web|title=Bishop David officially assumes post as CBCP head|url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/politics-issues/2021/12/01/205617/bishop-david-officially-assumes-post-as-cbcp-head/|website=Interaksyon|date=December 1, 2021|accessdate=December 1, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Bishop David, drug war critic, is new CBCP president |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/794542/caloocan-bishop-david-elected-as-new-cbcp-president/story/ |access-date=July 8, 2021 |work=GMA News Online |date=July 8, 2021 |first=Anna Felicia |last=Bajo |language=en}}

In 2023, David was elected as the Asian representative on the 7-member Commission on Information of that year's Synod of Bishops.{{Cite web|url= https://www.rappler.com/nation/cbcp-president-pablo-virgilio-david-commission-information-synod-bishops/| title= CBCP head Bishop David elected to crucial body at Vatican summit|first=Paterno|last=Esmaquel|website=Rappler|date=January 16, 2024 }} In 2024, David was elected as the vice president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences at the central committee meeting in Bangkok, succeeding Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith.{{cite news |last1=Laqui |first1=Ian |title=CBCP President elected VP of Federation of Bishops in Asia|url= https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/02/23/2335590/cbcp-president-elected-vp-federation-bishops-asia|accessdate=February 26, 2024 |publisher=The Philippine Star |date=February 23, 2024}}{{cite news |last1= Carvalho|first1=Nirmala|title=Asia elects new leaders for continental Bishops' Conference|url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2024/02/asia-elects-new-leaders-for-continental-bishops-conference |accessdate=February 26, 2024 |publisher=Crux|date=February 24, 2024}}

File:Coat of arms of Pablo Virgilio David (personal arms).svg

On October 6, 2024, Pope Francis announced he planned to make David a cardinal and elevated him in the December 7 consistory.{{cite news | access-date =7 December 2024 | url =https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/7/philippines-bishop-ambo-now-a-cardinal-0002 | first=Erik | last=Tenedero | date = 7 December 2024 | title =Philippines' Bishop Ambo now a cardinal | work =ABS-CBN}} David was named cardinal-priest of Trasfigurazione di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo.{{cite press release |title=Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali, 07.12.2024 |date=December 7, 2024 |publisher=Holy See Press Office |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/12/07/0975/01948.html |language=it |access-date=December 8, 2024}} He is the tenth Filipino to join the College of Cardinals,{{cite news |last=Tenedero |first=Erik |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/6/pope-francis-picks-phs-bishop-pablo-david-as-new-cardinal-1926 |title=Pope Francis picks PH's Bishop Pablo David as new cardinal |work=ABS-CBN |date=October 6, 2024 |access-date=October 6, 2024}} the third Filipino made a cardinal by Pope Francis, the first Filipino made a cardinal while not yet an archbishop, and the first cardinal from the Diocese of Kalookan.{{cite news|website=CBCP News| access-date= January 12, 2025 |url= https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/the-rise-of-cardinal-ambo/ | title= The Rise of 'Cardinal Ambo' | date=December 9, 2024|first=Felipe F.|last=Salvosa II }} He is in the rarely seen position of a cardinal who is suffragan to another cardinal, the Archbishop of Manila Jose Advincula. Just as he had refused to use the title "Excellency" which is normally accorded a bishop, as cardinal he said that he was "scandalized" by the use of the title "Eminence" for cardinals and hoped it would be abolished. He has said he expects no new assignment, rather to remain as bishop of Kalookan.

On October 23, 2024, the Synod of Bishops elected David a member of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod.{{cite news |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-10/synod-elects-new-members-secretariat-ordinary-council.html |title=Synod elects new members to Ordinary Council |work=Vatican News |date=October 24, 2024 |access-date=October 24, 2024}}

During a Simbang Gabi homily on December 24, 2024, David criticized Israel's Gaza war, saying that the biblical Israel is different from the State of Israel and that "if the Holy Family were to look for an inn today, they would not stay in Bethlehem but in the Gaza Strip and find a collapsed house in which to give birth to the Son of God".{{cite news | access-date=December 24, 2024 | date=December 24, 2024 |language=en |publisher=Rappler |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/cardinal-pablo-virgilio-david-statement-israel-jesus-would-have-been-born-gaza/ |title=Cardinal David hits Israel, says Jesus would have been born in Gaza }}

On January 12, 2025, Pope Francis named him a member of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.{{Cite web |title=Resignations and Appointments |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/01/11/250111d.html |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=Holy See Press Office}}

On April 24, David was among the earliest cardinal electors to give an interview about the forthcoming conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecatholicherald.com/a-conclave-doesnt-deal-in-candidates-cardinal-explains/|title=A conclave doesn’t deal in ‘candidates’, cardinal explains - Catholic Herald|first=Joseph San|last=Mateo/Crux|date=April 24, 2025}} Prior to and during the conclave, some media outlets listed David as a potential dark-horse candidate for the papacy.{{cite news | access-date=May 11, 2025 | date=May 8, 2025 |language=en |publisher=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippine-cardinal-david-emerges-as-dark-horse-in-papal-race |title=Philippine’s Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David emerges as ‘dark horse’ in papal race }}{{cite news | access-date=May 11, 2025 | date=May 8, 2025 |language=en |publisher=El Pais |url=https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-05-08/a-conclave-on-the-bus-and-three-new-potential-popes.html |title=A conclave on the bus and three new potential popes }} The Italian media reported afterwards that Cardinal David went as far as getting more votes than one of the early frontrunner and fellow Filipino Cardinal, Cardinal Tagle during the conclave.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-10 |title=Tagle, il retroscena su Prevost prima dell'ultimo voto: «Mi chiedeva cosa fare, aveva il respiro profondo. Gli ho offerto una caramella» |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/vaticano/tagle_retroscena_prevost_conclave_ultima_votazione_caramella_ultime_notizie_oggi-8827438.html |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.ilmessaggero.it |language=it}} Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States ultimately elected as the new Pope replacing Pope Francis, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

David has authored several works of popular theology.

With his co-editor Nina L.B. Tomen he has created three volumes focused on Angeles City, one on the devotion centered on the statue depicting the burial of Jesus Christ known as Apung Mamacalulu, Apung Mamacalulu: The Santo Entierro of Angeles City; another on popular religion in the old town of Betis there; and one on Holy Rosary Parish Church, Pisamban Maragul: The Living Church of Angeles City, designed to be presented to Pope Francis on his visit to the Philippines in January 2015. David said: "The Pope knows well that many old heritage churches in Europe have practically become dead churches or sheer museums. The book is not just about an old building; it is about a living Church." Its 350 pages included archival documents, memoirs of parisioners, and rare photographs. It concerned the church structure and its furnishings, but also documented nonmaterial expressions of faith that deserve preservation: popular devotions, rites, rituals, traditions, sacred music and other nonmaterial forms of faith.{{cite news |publisher= inquirer.net | title=Not just a building, but a 'living Church' |first= Tonette |last=Orejas |url= https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/660849/not-just-a-building-but-a-living-church |date=December 30, 2014| access-date=January 12, 2025}}{{cite news| first= John Kevin D. | last=Pilapil | date =December 27, 2014 | title=Book on 'Pisamban Maragul' launched |access-date=January 12, 2025 | url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/more-articles/book-on-pisamban-maragul-launched | work= SunStar }}

Also with Tomen, The Gospel of Mercy According to Juan/a (Makati City, Philippines: St. Pauls Philippines, 2016). The Juan/Juana of the title refers to any ordinary person, male or female. A collection of essays by each of the authors, with a co-authored preface.

• Catholic Church in the Philippines
• Cardinals created by Pope Francis

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• [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsiong.html Cardinal Pablo Virgilio Siongco David] profile by Catholic-Hierarchy.org
• [https://dioceseofkalookan.ph/ Diocese of Kalookan]

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{{s-bef|before=Gaetano Di Pierro}}

{{s-tul|title=Bishop of Guardialfiera|years=10 July 2006 – 14 October 2015}}

{{s-aft|after=Adilson Pedro Busin}}

{{s-bef|before=Deogracias Iñiguez Jr.}}

{{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Kalookan | years=2 January 2016 – }}

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{{s-bef|before=Romulo Valles}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines|years=1 December 2021 – }}

{{s-bef|before=Pedro Rubiano Sáenz}}

{{s-ttl|title=Cardinal Priest of Trasfigurazione di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo|years=7 December 2024 – }}

{{s-bef|before=Malcolm Ranjith}}

{{s-ttl|title=Vice-President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences|years=1 January 2025 – }}

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{{Cardinals of the Catholic Church}}

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Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines

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Category:1959 births

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Category:Roman Catholic activists

Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Kalookan

Category:Presidents of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines

Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Benedict XVI

Category:Filipino cardinals

Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis