Archbishop Rosales now a cardinal

The Vatican on Wednesday named Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales a cardinal. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Franco made the announcement after Rosales said mass at the Manila Cathedral Wednesday evening. The announcement came as Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed Rosales’ elevation to the College of Cardinals during the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter at the Vatican. Rosales is the sixth Filipino to be named cardinal in the influential Roman Catholic Church. The 73-year-old prelate is the successor to the late Jaime Cardinal Sin who is best remembered for his role during the two people power revolutions. The first to be named to the College of Cardinals was Rufino Cardinal Santos who was the second Archbishop of Manila. The second to become cardinal was Julio Cardinal Rosales who was archbishop of Cebu prior to Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. Jose Cardinal Sanchez was also named cardinal after he was named prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy of the Holy See. Vidal has recently turned 75, the mandatory retirement age for cardinals. His resignation and replacement is yet to be announced by the Vatican. Rosales will be formally invested during the consistory in Rome next month. During the rites the newly-elected cardinals will be conferred the symbolic red hat. Rosales served as vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) prior to his installation as archbishop of Lipa, Batangas. He was known as the environmentalist priest who bravely faced former President Ferdinand Marcos when he was bishop of Bukidnon. As a member of the College of Cardinals, Rosales will assist the pope in governing the church and has the privilege of electing the pope’s successor.