Pope sends condolences over death of Cardinal Sanchez; burial set March 12

Pope Benedict XVI sent his condolences to friends and colleagues of the late Cardinal Jose Sanchez, who died Friday in the Philippines at age 91. In a telegram of condolence, the Pope commended Sanchez’s “noble soul” to God, according to a report of the Vatican Information Service (VIS). His telegram was addressed to retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the report added. The VIS report quoted the Pope as praying that Sanchez’s witness “will inspire others to dedicate their lives to the service of the Lord and His Holy Church, especially in the priesthood.” Benedict XVI also recalled “the late cardinal’s dedicated service to the Lord as a priest and bishop in his native country, as well as our service together in the Roman Curia during the pontificate of Blessed John Paul II,” the VIS report added. In Manila, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines mourned the death of Sanchez, who it hailed as the fifth Filipino to be elevated to the position of cardinal. CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma lauded Sanchez as a “Prelate of passionate love,” saying he “loved God and loved the Church with joy and dedication.” “He left a legacy of ministry worthy of emulation and a source of pride for his Filipinos ... May he receive the reward for good and faithful servants,” Palma said, according to an article posted on the CBCP news site. Palma added Sanchez showed exemplary zeal in his various capacities whether in the curia or the diocese. Sanchez died at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center in San Juan City at 4:50 a.m. Friday. He would have turned 92 on March 17. The CBCP said Sanchez died due to multiple organ failure after being confined since last week. It quoted the prelate’s nephew Manolo Sanchez as saying the Cardinal had been in and out of the hospital. “He was brought to University of Santo Tomas last February 11 and went home after two weeks ... He always wanted to go home,” he said. He added they brought Cardinal Sanchez to Cardinal Santos Medical Center last week. Burial The CBCP said Sanchez’s remains will be brought to Loyola Memorial Chapels at Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City for preparation. A wake will be held at the Good Shepherd Cathedral Shrine along Regalado Avenue, in Novaliches, Quezon City. Sanchez will be laid to rest also at the cathedral on Monday, March 12. “We violated his wish to be buried immediately without embalming,” Manolo said, adding doctors advised burial should be held not later than Saturday should there be no embalming. Sanchez was born on March 17, 1920 in Pandan, Catanduanes and was ordained priest of Sorsogon at the age of 26 years old on May 12, 1946. At age 47, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Caceres, then known as Nueva Caceres on February 5, 1968 and Titular Bishop of Lezvi. The Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Carmine Rocco ordained him to the episcopacy. The principal co-consecrators were Bishops Flaviano Ariola and Arnulfo S. Arcilla. He was named Coadjutor Bishop of Lucena on December 13, 1971 at age 51. He succeeded the late Bishop Alfredo Mario Obviar on September 25, 1976. Sanchez was named Archbishop of Nueva Segovia on January 12, 1982 and on October 30, 1985, he was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He resigned on March 22, 1986 from the See of Nueva Segovia but on June 28, 1991, he was elevated to Cardinal and appointed Cardinal-Deacon of S. Pio V a Villa Carpegna during the Consistory of 1991. Then Pope John Paul II named him Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy on July 1, 1991 and was appointed President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See. At age 73, he resigned from the position. He retired on January 15, 1996 as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. He was appointed Cardinal-Priest of S. Pio V a Villa Carpegna on February 26, 2002 at age 81. During the Conclave of 2005, he has already reached non-voting age. The CBCP said Sanchez was a priest for over 65 years, a bishop of over 43 years and a cardinal for more than 20 years. Cardinal Sanchez was the principal consecrator of Bishops Camilo Diaz Gregorio and Manolo Alarcon delos Santos. He was the fifth Filipino named to the College of Cardinals after: