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Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Sin retires; Rosales, 71, is his successor
MANILA -- The term of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin is over.
The Vatican has finally accepted his resignation filed last Aug. 31, the day he reached the retirement age of 75.
In a statement, Fr. James Reuter, spokesman of the Apostolic Nunciature and director of the National Office on Mass Media (NOMM), said Pope John Paul II made the formal announcement Monday noon in Italy.
"Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of His Eminence Jaime L. Cardinal Sin from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Manila," the statement read.
Cardinal Sin wielded his enormous influence over this Southeast Asian nation of 80 million Filipinos, Asia's biggest Catholic outpost, to usher out two corruption-tainted presidents over the past 18 years.
"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," Cardinal Sin said in a statement.
Sin has served as Manila archbishop for 27 years.
Succeeding Sin's post will be Lipa Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales, who has been nominated to the See of Manila, considered the most influential seat in the country.
But Reuter explained that since the Vatican has not officially installed Archbishop Rosales, Cardinal Sin will remain as apostolic administrator of the Manila Archdiocese with the powers of ordinary bishop.
"No date has been set for the installation of Archbishop Rosales," he added.
Rosales, 71, was appointed auxiliary bishop of Manila in 1974 and bishop of Malaybalay, Bukidnon in 1984.
After 10 years in Malaybalay, he was appointed Archbishop of Lipa on March 18, 1993.
Archbishop Rosales, concurrent vice president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, is presently in Rome for the ad limina visit and will be returning to the country on Oct. 7.
"Rosales has already been named so it is definite that he will succeed Cardinal Sin, what is only lacking is the date of his assumption to the post," one church official said.
The official also said they are expecting Archbishop Rosales to assume the post late November or early December.
Cardinal Sin thanked the pope for giving him enough time "to serve the poorest among the poor and to share with them his life and his devotion to the Lord."
He also asked forgiveness to those he might have hurt in the past and appealed to the Catholic faithful to give Rosales the same respect and love which they have given him.
"I beg pardon from those I might have led astray or hurt. Please love, respect and obey Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales even more than you have done for me. He deserves your utmost love and esteem," the cardinal's statement read. (Sunnex) |
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