ROME — Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan has officially assumed his role as titular head of the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Rome, a symbolic link connecting him to the clergy of the Diocese of Rome.
The ceremony took place at the Parrocchia della Trasfigurazione di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo on Sunday (Manila time), marking a significant moment for the Filipino prelate who was elevated to the College of Cardinals by the late Pope Francis on October 6, 2024.
In his homily, Cardinal David appealed for prayers for the Philippines, voicing deep concern over mounting public anger toward corruption in government.
“I left my country with a heavy heart,” David told parishioners. “In these days, the people’s anger over government corruption is growing. So I ask you: please pray for us, that we may find peace in truth and justice, not in blood.”
Known for his vocal criticism of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, David now succeeds Colombian Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz as the titular head of the Church of the Transfiguration. Sáenz was the first to hold the title when St. John Paul II designated the church as a titular parish in 2001.
Located in Rome’s Monteverde Nuovo district, the church was established as a parish in 1936 and continues to serve as a community hub for local faithful.
Cardinal David’s message, delivered thousands of miles from home, resonated as both a spiritual appeal and a subtle reminder of the moral challenges facing the Philippines—a nation still grappling with issues of governance, justice, and integrity.
