Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

The **Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral** is the ecclesiastical seat of the _Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu_ in Cebu City, Philippines. The church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, under her title, _Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception_ and to _Saint Vitalis of Milan_. Before its status as a "primatial church", it was one of the first Roman Catholic places of worship in the Philippines dedicated to Saint Vitalis of Milan.

## History

The diocese in Cebu was established on August 14, 1595, and its status was elevated to become _a metropolitan archdiocese_ on April 28, 1934. Its eclesiastical jurisdiction reached far, with the dioceses of Dumaguete, Maasin, Tagbilaran and Talibon as _suffragans_.

The Spanish conquistadors led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Fray Andrés de Urdaneta and Fray Diego de Herrera had the cathedral erected, neighboring their fort in April 1565. Construction of the cathedral took many years due to frequent interruptions, brought about by lack of funds and other unexpected events.

The architecture of the church was typical of Spanish colonial churches in the Philippines  — squat, and with thick and low walls to withstand typhoons and other natural calamities. The façade featured a trefoil-shaped pediment, decorated with carved relief of floral motifs, IHS inscriptions and griffin gargoyles. The Spanish Royal Coat of Arms is emblazoned in low relief above the main entrance, perhaps reflecting the contribution of the Spanish monarch to its construction.

## Word War II and after

During World War II, much of the cathedral was destroyed by Allied bombings of the city. Only the belfry (built in 1835), the façade, and the walls remained.  It was rebuilt in the 1950s during the incumbency of Archbishop Gabriel Reyes, with the architect Jose Ma. Zaragosa. In 1982, a mausoleum was built at the back of the sacristy at the behest of Cardinal-Archbishop Julio Rosales. Today, it serves as a final resting place for the remains of Cebu's bishops and clergy. Rosales, who died three months after inauguration of the mausoleum, was interred there along with Archbishop Manuel Salvador, a coadjutor archbishop of Cebu, Archbishop Mariano Gaviola, the archbishop of Lipa (1981–1993), and most recently, Rosales' successor, Ricardo Vidal. The remains of Bishop Juan Bautista Gorordo, the first Filipino and Cebuano bishop of Cebu, are also interred there.

## Infobox (church)

- **name**: Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
- **fullname**: Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of Saint Vitalis and of the Guardian Angels
- **former name**: Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of Saint Vitalis and of the Guardian Angels
- **native name lang**: es, ceb, tl
- **image**: Cebu Cathedral 2024-07-07.jpg
- **caption**: Cebu Cathedral façade
- **map caption**: Location in Metro Cebu##Location in Cebu##Location in the Visayas##Location in the Philippines
- **location**: Cebu City
- **country**: Philippines
- **denomination**: Catholic Church, Roman Catholic
- **founder**: Diego de Espinal
- **dedication**: Vitalis of Milan
Immaculate Conception
Holy Name of Jesus
- **status**: Cathedral
- **functional status**: Active
- **heritage designation**: Important Cultural Property (Philippines)
- **designated date**: March 2023
- **architectural type**: Church building
- **style**: Spanish Colonial
- **deanery**: Most Holy Rosary
- **archdiocese**: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu
- **metropolis**: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu
- **diocese**: Roman Catholic Diocese of Cebu
- **province**: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu
- **archbishop**: Jose S. Palma
- **bishop**: Jesse E. Mercado
- **rector**: Camilo Alia