Vatican accepts Cardinal Sin’s resignation,
appoints Archbishop Rosales as successor

His Holiness Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of His Eminence, Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Manila, according to His Excellency Archbishop Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines. His Excellency, Most Rev. Gaudencio B. Rosales, at present the Archbishop of Lipa, has been nominated as the successor to the See of Manila.

In giving this announcement, the Holy Father expressed 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 constant affirmation of Christian values in social life, and for his untiring action in defense of the common good.”

Born in BatangasCity, on August 10, 1932, Archbishop Rosales is 71 years old.  He was ordained priest on March 23, 1958, at the age of 25.  He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Manila in 1974 and Bishop of Malaybalay ten years later, in 1984.  He became the Archbishop of Lipa ten years ago, on March 18, 1993.

Until the installation of his successor, His Eminence Jaime L. Cardinal Sin will continue to govern the Archdiocese of Manila as Apostolic Administrator with the powers of Ordinary Bishop.   No date has been set for the installation of Archbishop Rosales.

The acceptance of Cardinal Sin’s resignation and the nomination of Archbishop Rosales as his successor was officially published at noon in the Vatican, Roman time, on Monday, September 15, 2003.  The news was released in Manila by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, His Excellency Archbishop Antonio Franco.

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