Pope Benedict XVI has extended indefinitely the tenure of Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales as Manila Archbishop, rejecting the prelate’s customary resignation letter. Tomorrow, he turns 75 years old, the mandatory age for retirement of bishops.The Pope “responded” to the cardinal’s resignation letter by “inviting him to continue in your ministry,” the Manila Archdiocese said in a statement yesterday.
Rosales, who succeeded the late Jaime Cardinal Sin in 2004, made an early submission of his resignation letter to the Holy Father last June for the proper selection of his successor as Manila Archbishop.
The Apostolic Nunciature conveyed the response of the Pope in a letter last July 12.
“It was being conveyed so that you can bring it to the knowledge of the entire Archdiocese and continue in your pastoral service in this particular Church, leaving to the Holy Father the decision when to appoint your successor,” Monsignor Wojciech Zaluski, charge d’affaires, said.
The Archdiocese of Manila has designated the Cardinal’s birthday as “Special Day for the Poor.”
Manila Auxiliary Archbishops Bernardino Cortez and Broderick Pabillo, in a circular, have asked each parish and community to honor the poor “in a way it thinks best and what the poor would regard as a ‘birthday treat’ and a gift to the Cardinal.”
The bishops said this could come in the form of a fellowship or a whole day of social services such as a free clinic, livelihood training, feeding of children, and gift-giving.
Rosales’ has spearheaded a fund raising for the poor called “Pondo ng Pinoy,” urging individuals to donate 25-centavos daily for the country’s poor.
The archdiocese statement said that Rosales -- affectionately called “Cardinal Dency” -- had expressed his wish to “disappear on his birthday and for week thereafter for much-longed moments of looking back and prayerful reflections on his life and ministry.”
But he agreed to have a Mass Wednesday at the Arzobispado de Manila for the advance celebration of his birthday.
Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, said in his homily that “Cardinaly Dency (is) someone who has offered a new vision only for Manila but also for the Philippines.”
Vidal turned 75 more than a year ago and was also told by the Pope to “continue with his ministry.”
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