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CEBU CITY, Philippines ? Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal leaves for Manila on Monday for a medical checkup to determine the cause of his neck and back pain.
Vidal has been wearing a neck brace since the third day of the Misa de Gallo last December 18.
The 77-year-old prelate has osteoporosis, a thinning of the bones that is an age-related condition.
Father Mhar Balili, Vidal's secretary, said the neck brace helps ease the pain in his nape which the archbishop started to feel last month.
?The pain he (Vidal) feels began in his knees, then his hip and now his neck...He is not taking pain relievers. He says that he can tolerate the pain. He prefers to just rest when he feels tired,? Balili added.
He did not elaborate on the medical procedures Vidal will undergo but said the prelate's spinal column, particularly the cartilage between the vertebrae will be checked.
Last Saturday, the cardinal celebrated Mass for the Family Life Apostolate in his compound, then told members he couldn?t join them for lunch because ?I am in pain? and had to lie down.
Specialists in St. Luke?s Medical Center in Manila have been sent the results of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan taken of Vidal in Cebu, Cebu Daily News learned from other sources.
Balili said the cardinal feels much pain if he stands for a long period of time.
?He has to sit down or even lie down. It is the weight of his head. If he stands for a long time, he would feel pain in his back,? he said.
Balili, however, reiterated that Vidal?s ?condition is not alarming. He will just have a check up.?
Aside from the examination, Vidal's schedule of activities for January will go on as planned such as the celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño on the third Sunday of the month.
Although Vidal won?t attend the foot procession held on the eve of the feast day, he will still fetch Cebu's most venerated image from inside the Basilica del Sto. Niño and transfer it to an awaiting carosa.
?Like in previous years, he would also be the one to get the image from the carosa after the procession and return it inside the church,? Balili said.
Vidal will still lead the celebration of the Pontifical Mass on the feast day itself on January 18.
