Retired Manila archbishop looks forward to going home

MANILA, Philippines - Retired Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is planning to go to a home for retired bishops in his home province of Batangas, where he can spend more time in prayer, write a book, and dabble in gardening.

“I am happy I can finally go home…I have more time for prayer. I have more time to write. I guess I can tell you that I was the one who personally wrote my speeches. I never employed a writer,” said the 79-year-old Rosales, who filed his resignation four years ago, when he reached the mandatory retirement age for bishops.

He said he is looking forward to turning the archdiocese over to Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, who was named a few days ago by the Vatican as his successor.

While Rosales does not plan to write an autobiography, he wants to write a book about former Lucena Bishop Alfredo Obviar, who is also from Lipa and the founder of the Missionary Catechist of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus.

Through the book, Rosales hopes more Filipinos would get to know and appreciate the life of the Obviar, who is being evaluated in the Vatican for possible beatification. Obviar was reportedly declared a servant of God in 2001.

The CBCPNews reported that the crosier or pastoral staff Rosales has been using ever since he was ordained to the episcopate used to belong to Obviar. The crosier is the symbol of the governing office of the bishop.

“Since 1974, I never used any staff except this one,” he said, adding that the staff was personally given to him by Obviar.

Rosales added that although it is still a mystery to him why Obviar chose to give him his staff, he is thankful for the gift.

“That’s really precious to me,” he said. “When I’m sick, I even put it near my chest for me to get well.”