ROME — Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan on Sunday, Oct. 19, took possession of the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ as his titular church in Rome.
The ceremony, highlighted with a Mass, affirmed the cardinal’s identity as a member of the clergy of Rome.
In his homily, David appealed for prayers for the Philippines as he expressed deep concern over growing public anger amid allegations of large-scale government corruption.
“Please pray for us, that we may find peace in truth and justice, not in blood,” the cardinal said.
“When anger grows faster than justice,” he warned, “it can easily explode into violence.”
Reflecting on the day’s readings, David reminded the faithful that perseverance in prayer and faith rests on three things: community, the Word and trust.
“Perseverance is sustained by [the] community,” he said. “The strength to persevere doesn’t come from sheer stubbornness or will power, but from the power of God’s Word that lives in us.”
The 20th-century church, located at Piazza della Trasfigurazione 2 in the Monteverde Nuovo district, was completed in 1936 and established as a parish that same year.
St. John Paul II designated it as a titular church in 2001 and assigned it to Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz of Bogotá in the same consistory — the year Pope Francis was also created a cardinal.
A cardinal is regarded as an honorary member of the clergy of Rome. Each is given a titular church, symbolically serving as its pastor and to signify his connection to the pope’s pastoral ministry.
A cardinal’s bond with his titular church continues until death, even after retirement from active ministry. As a sign of that relationship, he is expected to celebrate Mass there from time to time.
Many titular churches in Rome date back centuries, adorned with artworks by renowned artists and tied to a long succession of distinguished cardinals throughout history.
David is only the second cardinal assigned to the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, succeeding Sáenz, who died in April 2024.
Pope Francis appointed David among the 21 new cardinals on Oct. 6, 2024. He was formally elevated to the College of Cardinals during a consistory at St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 7 of the same year.
