INQUIRER Global Nation

THE strain of celebrating the nine-day Misa de Gallo took a toll on Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who is now resting to alleviate the neck pain he incurred after officiating the annual Christmas dawn mass in various parishes in Metro Cebu.

Msgr. Achilles Dakay, Cebu Archdiocese spokesman said the Cardinal admitted that he felt pain on his back at the start of the nine-day Misa de Gallo at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral last Dec. 16.

Dakay said Vidal did not mind it at first but soon his neck started acting up.

However, Dakay said Vidal's condition was not serious and he would just rest for a few days.

He also dismissed the perception that the strain of waking up early for the Misa de Gallo affected Vidal's health.

He said that the Cardinal still looked healthy during the “Misa Aguinaldo for Christmas’ eve in the evening of Dec. 24.

Despite this, Dakay said he was hopeful that Vidal could recover in time for a scheduled New Year's Eve mass at the Archbishop's Palace on Dec. 31.

The Cardinal is also scheduled to attend a Christmas party for all the clergies in Cebu at the San Carlos Seminary Mayor on Dec. 30.

Aside from officiating the “Misa de Gallo” in different parishes in Metro Cebu, Vidal also entertained visitors at the Archbishop's Palace. Correspondent Chris Ligan