Lipa archbishop to replace Sin

Pope John Paul II named yesterday Lipa Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales as successor to retiring Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Franco announced Rosales’ nomination after revealing that the Pope had accepted Cardinal Sin’s resignation from pastoral governance of the largest archdiocese in the country which he led for 29 years.

"The Holy Father expresses his deep gratitude to (Cardinal Sin) for his unconditional dedication and love for the people entrusted to his care first in Jaro and then in Manila; for his great affection and devotion to the Successor of Peter; for his firmness always shown in affirming the Christian values in social life and for his untiring action in defense of the common good," the Papal Nuncio said in a letter to Rev. James Reuter, executive director of the Church’s National Office of Mass Media.

Franco said Cardinal Sin will continue to govern the archdiocese as Apostolic Administrator with powers of ordinary bishop.

Franco did not say when Rosales will be installed but sources at the Archdiocese of Manila said Rosales’ archiepiscopal installation would likely be set on or around Dec. 8, the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, the archdiocese’s patroness.

Sin, in a brief statement, thanked God for the Pope’s acceptance of his resignation.

"Thanks be to God," the Cardinal’s statement read. "Like the prophet Simeon, I can now exclaim ‘Now you can let your servant go in peace, Your Word has been fulfilled, My own eyes have seen the salvation that you have prepared for your people.’"

"As I enter a new chapter in my twilight years, I can say with gratitude that I have given my very best to God and country. I beg pardon from those I might have led astray or hurt. Please remember me kindly," Sin said.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye lauded Sin for the leadership he displayed through 29 of the most tumultuous years in Philippine history.

"He is a true shepherd of his flock," Bunye said. "He led the people through the most difficult periods of our history. We wish him well on his retirement."

Sin also exhorted the faithful of the archdiocese to "please love, respect and obey Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales even more than you have done for me. He deserves your utmost love and esteem."

Rosales, 71, has been a priest for 45 years and a bishop for 28.

He was born in Batangas City on Aug. 10, 1932, making him the first native Tagalog to become archbishop of Manila.

The archbishop is the third of the seven children of physician Godofredo Rosales and Remedios Borbon.

He studied at the Jesuit-run San Jose Seminary and was ordained priest on March 23, 1958.

He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Manila in August 1974 and two months later ordained auxiliary bishop of Manila until he was appointed coadjutor bishop of Malaybalay, Bukidnon on June 9, 1982. He succeeded to the episcopal throne on Sept. 14, 1984.

He was bishop of Malaybalay until Dec. 30, 1992 when he was named archbishop of Lipa.

STAR columnist Rev. Miguel Bernad, SJ, described Rosales as a "first class bishop" distinguished by his concern for both the laity and the clergy.

"He is a very pastoral bishop, someone who is very interested in the lives of his people, not only in the spiritual but the material aspects as well," he said.

"Archbishop Rosales will continue the pastoral care that Cardinal Sin has shown," Bernad said, recalling how Rosales ran his Malaybalay archdiocese.

"We need bishops who are less managerial, those interested in people and priests," Bernad added. "Archbishop Rosales shows great interest in people and priests."

Bernad related that a French bishop once visited Rosales in Malaybalay for a week-long tour of the diocese. After the visit, the French prelate wrote a letter to the conference of French bishops and said: "This is the first place I’ve been to where the Church is alive."

Even Muslim leaders who knew the archbishop during his stay in Malaybalay welcomed Rosales’ nomination.

"Bishop Rosales knew the plight of the people and he can be an instrument in helping find lasting peace in the region," said Muslim leader Datu Norodin Lucman.