Gaudencio Rosales

Infobox Cardinal
honorific-prefix = His Eminence
name = Gaudencio Borbón Cardinal Rosales
honorific-suffix =
title = Cardinal Archbishop of Manila


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province =
diocese =
see = Archdiocese of Manila
enthroned = November 21, 2003
ended = Incumbent
predecessor = Jaime Cardinal Sin
successor =
ordination =
consecration =
cardinal = March 24, 2006
rank =
other_post = Archbishop of Lipa
birth_name =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1932|8|10|mf=y
birthplace = Batangas City, Batangas
death_date =
deathplace =
buried =
nationality =
religion =
residence =
parents =
spouse =
children =
ocupation =
profession =
alma_mater =

Gaudencio Borbón Cardinal Rosales (born August 10, 1932) is the current Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, succeeding Jaime Cardinal Sin in 2003. Rosales concurrently holds the titles of Metropolitan and Primate of the Philippines, and is the Cardinal Priest of " SS. Nome di Maria in Via Latina". He is only the fourth native Filipino Archbishop of Manila — following centuries of Spanish, American and Irish episcopacy.

Early life and career

Rosales was born in Batangas City, Batangas. Rosales' grandfathers were Julian Rosales, a former mayor of the town of Batangas and Pablo Borbon, a former governor of Batangas province. Rosales' father, Dr. Godofredo Dilay Rosales, was one of the first Filipino physicians to acquire his medical school and residency training exclusively in the United States of America, after which he returned home to practice in Batangas City. Rosales' mother, Remedios Mayo Borbón, was the first cousin of the great Filipino nationalist, Claro M. Recto. He is the 3rd of 7 siblings, the others being Rosie, Guillermo ( deceased), Gabriel, Tessie, Gilbert and Mary Grace.

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 Banay-banay. 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, Alfredo 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.

Archbishop of Lipa and Manila

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 began 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.

Cardinal

infobox cardinalstyles
cardinal name=Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales
dipstyle=His Eminence
offstyle=Your Eminence
See=Manila|

Rosales's elevation to the College of Cardinals was announced on February 22, 2006. Archbishop Antonio Franco, then the Holy See Representative (Apostolic Nuncio) to the Philippines, personally made the announcement at the Manila Cathedral in the Intramuros where he presided the mass for the 40th anniversary of the Focolare movement, a Church organization.

Pope Benedict XVI officially created Archbishop Rosales a Cardinal in the consistory of March 24, 2006. Rosales joined 14 others, two of them Asians, as the newest member of the College of Cardinals. 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.”

On February 3, 2007, Rosales was appointed to for a five-year term on the 15-seat Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Concerns of the Apostolic See. The main job of the council is to look after the organizational and economic affairs of the Vatican.

In 2007, having reached the age of 75, Cardinal Rosales submitted his resignation as required under Canon Law, but the Vatican, through Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re rejected Rosales's resignation. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/54988/Vatican-rejects-Rosales-resignation-as-Manila-bishop gmanews.tv/story, Vatican rejects Rosales resignation] ]

In 2008, Cardinal Rosales' invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit the fourth largest Catholic nation in the world; however, the Pope declined it due his hectic schedule. [ [http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=1.0.2146861961 Philippines: Pope too busy to visit, says Manila archbishop] ]

Political involvement

Archbishop Rosales has been considered by church insiders and analysts as a moderate.Fact|date=May 2008 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 in 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.Fact|date=May 2008

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.Fact|date=May 2008

The 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. Fact|date=May 2008 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's Fund" or Fund of the Filipino). This drive is to urge people to save 25 centavos and donate them in bottles or recycled soft drink cans for the poor.

When the state of national emergency was proclaimed, Cardinal-designate 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, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales argued against the National Statistics Office (NSO) requirement that all solemnizing officers/priests to undergo training before conducting wedding ceremonies. He said: “We understand the concern of the National Statistics Office (NSO) because we also know of abuses done by the so called ministers of the Gospel (not priests), but they should not be like that to us, as if we know nothing." [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/73940/Cardinal-Rosales-to-NSO-Priests-know-best-in-sanctifying-marriage GMA NEWS.TV, Cardinal Rosales to NSO: Priests know best in sanctifying marriage] ]

In 2008, Rosales clashed with Ang Ladlad founder Danton Remoto on the subject of allowing gays to participate, in drag, in the Flores de Mayo celebration. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSMAN17960720080505 www.reuters.com, Manila bishop says against gay men in May parade] ] Rosales threatened parishes that permit cross-dressing homosexuals to play Saint Helena, or female saints in the Santacruzan or Flores de Mayo procession with official punishment and removal from mass. [ [http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/06/yehey/top_stories/20080506top6.html manilatimes.net, Cardinal: Gays out of ‘Santacruzans’] ]

Episcopal Succession

Episcopal_Succession
date of consecration=October 28 1974
consecrated by=Bruno Torpigliani
bishopconsecrated1 = bishopconsecrated1
bishop 1=Mylo Hubert Claudio Vergara
consecration date 1=April 30 2005
bishopconsecrated2 = bishopconsecrated2
bishop 2=Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David
consecration date 2=10 Jul 2006
bishopconsecrated3 =bishopconsecrated3
bishop 3=Bishop Broderick Soncuaco Pabillo
consecration date 3=19 Aug 2006
bishopconsecrated4 = bishopconsecrated4
bishop 4=Bishop Elenito de los Reyes Galido
consecration date 4=8 Sep 2006
bishopconsecrated5 =bishopconsecrated5
bishop 5=Bishop Leopoldo Corpuz Jaucian, S.V.D.
consecration date 5=26 Mar 2007
bishopconsecrated6 = bishopconsecrated6
bishop 6=Bishop Francisco Mendoza de Leon
consecration date 6=1 Sep 2007
bishopconsecrated7 = null
bishop 7=
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External links

* [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_rosales_gb_en.html Vatican Cardinal Bio]
* [http://www.rcam.org/ Welcome to Archdiocese of Manila Official Website]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brosg.html Gaudencio Borbón Cardinal Rosales (Catholic-Hierarchy)]
* [http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=236 catholic pages]
*http://www.rcam.org/ROSALES_webpage/webpage_archbishop_rosales.htm Rosales Webpage]
* [http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=5470 Asia News]

References