MANILA, 08 August 2007— Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales will continue serving as Archbishop of Manila following an invitation of Pope Benedict XVI for him to continue his pastoral duty even if he reached his retirement age. The Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines, in a letter forwarded to Rosales, said that the Holy Father had received his resignation letter but the Pope was inviting him “to continue his ministry.”
The Pope’s letter was read Wednesday at the Mass for the advance celebration of Rosales’ birthday with the Manila clergy at the Arzobispado de Manila.
In response, the Cardinal said he will continue what he has been doing and urged his priests and the faithful to continue praying for him.
“I thank God for the strength He has given for me to continue serving for the Church and His people despite of my old age,” said Rosales.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), meanwhile, welcomed the Holy Father's recent decision. CBCP President and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said it’s really the prerogative of the Pope whether or not to accept the filed mandatory resignation of the Manila archbishop.“We are very happy with the decision. Even if Archbishop Rosales reached the age of 75, he still capable of leading the Catholic Church in the Philippines,” he said.
A few months before his 75th birthday on August 10, Rosales sent his resignation letter to the Pope in February 2006 as required by the Church Law.
The Code of Canon Law requires that Catholic bishops must tender their resignation on their 75th birth anniversary.
In that letter, Rosales thanked the Pope and “the Holy Mother the Church for having granted me the privilege of serving the Church as Bishop.”
He said that his 33 years as prelate “have shown me the unfailing grace of a loving God” despite “difficult moments” but “rewarding times”.
He told the Pope that he was submitting his resignation earlier, to “allow the proper selection of the Archbishop who will succeed” him. - Roy Lagarde