Cardinal Orlando Quevedo: Mindanao’s ‘Man of Peace’ and his lifelong mission of unity

Manila, Philippines, Nov 8, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Cardinal Orlando Beltran Quevedo, OMI, archbishop emeritus of Cotabato, has spent a lifetime building bridges of understanding across the complex cultural and religious landscape of Mindanao, the Philippines’ second-largest island. 

Widely known as the region’s “Man of Peace,” Quevedo’s ministry has been defined by dialogue, compassion, and his belief that peace begins in the heart.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, as of July 1, 2024, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is home to 5.69 million Filipinos, the majority of whom are Muslim. 

The region is located on Mindanao, the Philippines’ second-largest island, with a total population of approximately 26 million. While BARMM has a Muslim majority, the Philippines as a whole — with a population of 112.7 million — remains a Christian-majority nation.

Winner of peace award for inspiring hope

In recognition of his decadeslong work for reconciliation among Christians, Muslims, and Lumad Indigenous communities, the Philippine government honored Quevedo, the first cardinal from Mindanao and a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, with the “Gawad Kapayapaan” (Peace Award) in September — a distinction given to individuals and institutions whose efforts advance peace and social cohesion.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) described Quevedo’s mission as one “for healing divisions and inspiring hope.” Officials cited his ability to unite faith leaders and ordinary citizens alike in a shared pursuit of understanding.

OPAPRU also honored Maria Veronica P. Tabara, a former revolutionary turned peace advocate, and the provincial government of Basilan with the Peace Award.

Now in its fourth year, the award recognizes leaders and institutions whose dedication to fostering mutual understanding, interfaith dialogue, and solidarity is bringing the nation closer to its vision of justice and lasting peace while inspiring all Filipinos to participate in this peace journey.

“Quevedo’s decades of service to the Church and communities in Mindanao show us that peace is built not only through institutions but through compassion, unity, and faith in humanity,” OPAPRU said.

Accepting the award, Quevedo said: “Peace is born in the heart. Let us continue building bridges — not only between communities but between hearts — for only together can we truly walk the path of peace.”

He dedicated the award to Muslims, Christians, and Lumads “who have labored quietly for peace.”

A life shaped by service and dialogue

Born March 11, 1939, in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte province, in the northern Philippines, Quevedo was ordained a priest in 1964 and became bishop of the Diocese of Kidapawan in 1982. After leading the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, he was later appointed archbishop of Cotabato, witnessing firsthand the deep fractures of Mindanao — long affected by armed conflict, historical grievances, and economic inequality.

Additionally, he was president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines from 1999 to 2003 and head of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences from 2005 to 2011. Quevedo was made a cardinal in 2014.

Quevedo has devoted his ministry over the years to bridging divides. In 1996, he participated in the Bishops-Ulama Conference, a forum that brought together Catholic bishops, Protestant pastors, and Muslim ulama for dialogue and cooperation. The initiative remains a cornerstone of interfaith peacebuilding in the Philippines.

“Peace is born in the heart,” Quevedo often says. “It grows when we build bridges — not only between communities but between hearts.”

Peace and fellowship as witness to faith

Even after retiring in 2018, the cardinal remains a moral voice for peace in the BARMM, serving on its Council of Leaders. His advocacy now centers on addressing the root causes of conflict — inequality, exclusion, and mistrust — through education, inclusive governance, and people-to-people encounters.

He insists that peacebuilding cannot rely solely on institutions. “It is through compassion, unity, and respect for human dignity,” he has said, “that true peace takes root.”

Quevedo has spent years working among communities and building bridges where violence once tore them apart.

One of his goals is to bring religious leaders together in a place where they can discuss and plan ways to promote peace. He also wants to make it easier for them to talk to government agencies and other groups involved in reconciliation, with the right policies in place.

He believes in “the effects of ripples” — and that small steps always lead to significant changes. He says that a simple act of peace and openness can change the world in the most dangerous and dark places.

Quevedo urges people to respect differences in language, culture, and religion. His work aims to end violence and respect human dignity by linking community involvement to democratic values. He urges everyone to reach out to people with compassion and respect. In Mindanao, his approach has been to include children, youth, women, elders, religious leaders, government officials, and the public in promoting peace.

His dedication has resulted in tangible outcomes: Educational institutes, civil society groups, and public institutions have endorsed his initiatives for peace and fellowship.

Today, interfaith dialogue efforts are a sign of hope in the Philippines, thanks to people like Quevedo and many others. It indicates that peace isn’t just the lack of conflict; it’s also the presence of compassion and friendship.

Quevedo says that when people of different faiths walk together with open hearts and hope, healing starts and peace becomes not just possible but real. Such efforts, according to Quevedo, would enrich people’s life expressions and experiences across religions, and all would have a role to play as peace catalysts.

For many, Quevedo’s legacy lies not just in his ecclesial titles — bishop, archbishop, cardinal — but in his enduring witness to faith in action. His influence extends to educators, faith leaders, and grassroots advocates who continue his mission of dialogue and understanding.

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