Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales
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Gaudencio Borbón Cardinal Rosales (born August 10, 1932) cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines with the title of Cardinal-Priest of SS. Nome di Maria in Via Latina.
Born in Batangas City, Batangas, he succeeded Jaime Cardinal Sin to serve as the Archbishop of Manila. Rosales concurrently holds the titles of Metropolitan and Primate of the Philippines. He is only the fourth native Filipino Archbishop of Manila — following centuries of Spanish, American and Irish episcopacy.
Rosales' mother, Remedios Mayo Borbón, was the first cousin of the great Filipino nationalist, Claro M. Recto. As a boy, he wanted already to be a priest. He studied theology at the San Jose Seminary, and has as classmates two other future bishops: Bishop Severino Pelayo, former bishop of the military ordinariate, and Bishop Benjamin Almoneda, former bishop of Daet, Camarines Norte. On March 23, 1958, he was ordained priest by Bishop Alejandro Olalia, and then assigned to teach for 11 years in seminary of the Archdiocese of Lipa (which was then merely a diocese). In 1970, he was given his first parish assignment—an obscure barrio named Baay-baay. He was told by the other priests not to stay long there because there was nothing much to do there. He replied with the spirit that has characterized his whole priestly life, “I will look for something to do.” And he did. He visited practically every house in his parish, meeting with everyone in the process. Up to now, the people in the place which he served for two-and-a-half years remember the tall, kindly priest.
His performance and reputation must have impressed the bishop, for he was transferred to the biggest parish of the diocese, in Batangas City. Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was then his bishop, and soon afterwards, he was named auxiliary bishop of Manila, the first Batangueño to be made bishop under the stewardship of then Archbishop Vidal. Bishop Rosales was given by the saintly bishop, Maximo Obviar, his bishop’s staff, which Bishop Rosales has been using ever since.
At the request of Rufino Jiao Santos, Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, Rosales was appointed by Pope Paul VI on August 12, 1974 to become auxiliary bishop in the nation's capital. He was assigned to help the Manila archbishop in shepherding a very big area of the archdiocese of Manila. He took care of the ecclesiastical district of Antipolo, as well as San Juan, Mandaluyong, and Grace Park. Rosales was officially ordained as bishop of the titular see of Oescus in a ceremony on October 28, 1974. In 1980, he was assigned as rector of the major seminary, San Carlos Seminary.
His term as rector was brief, though, for on June 9, 1982, he was appointed coadjutor bishop to the then controversial and prophetic Bishop Francisco Claver, of Diocese of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. In this moment of difficulty, Rosales recalled that a stampita (holy picture) dropped from his breviary (liturgy of the hours). It was from Mother (now Blessed) Teresa of Calcutta. When he picked it up, he saw the writing at the back. It read: “Allow God to use you without first consulting you.” These words brought peace to his soul. On September 14, 1984, Rosales succeeded the Bishop of Malaybalay taking complete authority over the diocese. He started his ministry in Malaybalay by forming with his people, especially the priest and religious there, a vision of the diocese: that of the total development of every person and all persons, brought about by Jesus Christ. In that difficult assignment, he was able to bring about the unity of the clergy as they struggled especially for justice, peace and environmental protection. He often looks back to his days there as the golden moments of his ministry.
When Archbishop Mariano Gaviola of Lipa retired, Rosales was appointed on December 30, 1992 to replace him, bringing him back to the diocese where he bagan his priestly ministry. Rosales was elevated to become Archbishop of Lipa.
With the announced retirement of Jaime Cardinal Sin, one of the beloved architects of the People Power Movement of the EDSA Revolution, the Papal Nuncio told Archbishop Rosales of his impending appointment as archbishop of Manila. He begged the Nuncio with tears not to have him appointed, but the Nuncio did not relent. Appointed by Pope John Paul II on September 15, 2003, Rosales was installed at Manila Cathedral on November 21, 2003.
[edit] Cardinal
| Styles of Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Manila |
Pope Benedict XVI created Archbishop Rosales a Cardinal in the consistory of March 24, 2006. Pope Benedict told the new cardinals: “I want to sum up the meaning of this new call that you have received in the word which I placed at the heart of my first Encyclical: caritas. This matches well the color of your cardinalatial robes. May the scarlet that you now wear always express the caritas Christi, inspiring you to a passionate love for Christ, for his Church and for all humanity.” A little later, he added: “I am counting on you, dear Brother Cardinals, to ensure that the principle of love will spread far and wide, and will give new life to the Church at every level of her hierarchy, in every group of the faithful, in every religious Institute, in every spiritual, apostolic or humanitarian initiative.”
Rosales's impending creation as a Cardinal was announced February personally by then Holy See Representative (Apostolic Nuncio) to the Philippines Archbishop Antonio Franco at the Manila Cathedral in the Intramuros where he presided the mass for the 40th anniversary of the Focolare movement, a Church organization. He joins 14 others, two of them Asians, who were created cardinals by the Pope. His creation as cardinal and thus, membership in the College of Cardinals, took place when he knelt before the Pope for his blessing, and received a red zucchetto, or skull cap, and the three-cornered scarlet hat called a biretta to wear over it as a symbol of his membership in the College of Cardinals. The College of Cardinals, considered as the "princes" of the Roman Catholic Church are advisers to the pope and have the sole authority to choose his successor.
[edit] Political stand
Archbishop Rosales has been considered by church insiders and analysts as a moderate. Unlike his predecessor, the populist Jaime Cardinal Sin, Rosales has been distancing himself from politics. This was very evident when he and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) did not call for President Arroyo's ouster last July 2005 when the calls for her removal were mounting. The CBCP in their pastoral letter asked the people to remain calm and called for sobriety. It was rumored that then Papal Nuncio Archbishop Antonio G. Franco was sent by Pope Benedict XVI to warn Filipino bishops to stay away from politics.
In October 2005 when CBCP president Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao resigned from his post, Rosales confirmed that he was elected twice to head the CBCP but declined and instead Jaro Archbishop Angelo Lagdameo, a critic of President Arroyo was elected as the next CBCP president.
The very moderate church leader once said that there is no such thing as absolute freedom when police forces violently dispersed a group of politicians, priests and nuns including 3 bishops which planned to go to the San Beda College chapel to hear mass. He expressed support for charter change but condemned politicians pushing their personal agenda in amending the constitution.
Instead of directly engaging in politics, he launched his long-time advocacy which he began when he was still Archbishop of Lipa, the "Pondo ng Pinoy" (literally translated as "Filipino Funds"). This drive is to urge people to save 25 centavos and donate them in bottles or recycled softdrink cans for the poor.
When the state of national emergency was proclaimed, Cardinal-elect Rosales asked the Filipinos to pray for peace and unity in the country and expressed hopes that the government will not abuse and curtail the rights of the people.
In 2007, Cardinal Rosales will reach the age of 75, the age of retirement for prelates under Canon Law. It remains to be seen whether the Vatican will decline his retirement.
| Episcopal Lineage | |
| Consecrated by: | Bruno Torpigliani |
| Date of consecration: | October 28, 1974 |
| Consecrator of | |
|---|---|
| Bishop | Date of consecration |
| Mylo Hubert Claudio Vergara | April 30, 2005 |
| Preceded by: Francisco F. Claver |
Bishop of Malaybalay 1984–1992 |
Succeeded by: Honesto Chaves Pacana |
| Preceded by: Mariano Gaviola y Garcés |
Archbishop of Lipa 1992–2003 |
Succeeded by: Ramon Cabrera Argüelles |
| Preceded by: Jaime Cardinal Sin |
Archbishop of Manila 2003–present |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
| Preceded by: Paulos Cardinal Tzadua |
Cardinal-Priest of SS. Nome di Maria in Via Latina March 24, 2006 – present |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
