MANILA--The country ’s oldest Catholic prelate, Bishop Manuel P. Del Rosario, emeritus of Malolos and a Bikolano, passed away at 1:00 A.M. today, at age 93.
Del Rosario has been confined to a wheelchair since he was paralyzed due to a stroke in 1963 while attending the conferences of the Second Vatican Council in Rome. The prelate died of pneumonia at Yanga Hospital in Bocaue, Bulacan according to his nephew newly-appointed SEC Commissioner Manuel B. Gaite.
“He is the country’s last living bishop ordained under Vatican I,” said Commissioner Gaite, a former seminarian.
A native of Baao, Camarines Sur, Del Rosario was born on July 1, 1915. He was ordained to the priesthood at age 23 in March 25, 1939 at the Cathedral of Nueva Caceres. His Episcopal ordination took place at the same cathedral on July 25, 1955. He was appointed Bishop of Calbayog on July 25, 1958. In December 1961, he was appointed first bishop of the newly-created Diocese of Malolos. He later resigned from the See of Malolos on December 15, 1977 due to health conditions.
His remains will be brought to Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary late tonight. Interment will be held on Friday, March 27, 2009 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Malolos City after funeral rites to be presided by Malolos Bishop Jose F. Oliveros, DD. (Melo Acuña)