Gaudencio Rosales

His Eminence  Gaudencio Borbon Rosales
Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Manila
See	Archdiocese of Manila
Enthroned	November 21, 2003 (&100000000000000080000008 years, &10000000000000108000000108 days)
Reign ended	October 13, 2011
Predecessor	Jaime Sin
Successor	Luis Antonio Tagle
Other posts	Archbishop of Lipa
Orders
Created Cardinal	March 24, 2006
Personal details
Born	August 10, 1932 (1932-08-10) Batangas City, Batangas
Nationality	Filipino
Denomination	Roman Catholic

Gaudencio Borbon Rosales (born August 10, 1932) was a Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, succeeding Jaime Sin in 2003, and followed by Luis Antonio Tagle. He was also Metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of Manila, de facto Primate of the Philippines (rarely used), Archpriest of Manila Cathedral. He was the fourth native Filipino Archbishop of Manila, following centuries of Spanish and Irish-American episcopacy.

Early life and ordination

Rosales was born in Batangas City, Batangas. Rosales' grandfathers were Julian Rosales, a former mayor of the town of Batangas and Pablo Borbon, a former governor of Batangas province. Rosales' father, Dr. Godofredo Dilay Rosales, was one of the first Filipino physicians to acquire his medical school and residency training exclusively in the United States of America, after which he returned home to practice in Batangas City. Rosales' mother, Remedios Mayo Borbón, was the first cousin of the great Filipino nationalist, Claro M. Recto. He is the 3rd of 7 siblings, the others being Rosie, Guillermo (deceased), Gabriel, Tessie, Gilbert and Mary Grace.

As a boy, he wanted already to be a priest. He studied theology at the San Jose Seminary, and had as classmates two other future bishops: Bishop Severino Pelayo, former bishop of the military ordinariate, and Bishop Benjamin Almoneda, former bishop of Daet, Camarines Norte. On March 23, 1958, he was ordained priest by Bishop Alejandro Olalia, and then assigned to teach for 11 years in the seminary of the Archdiocese of Lipa (which was then merely a diocese).

Parish priest

In 1970, he was given his first parish assignment—an obscure barrio named Banay-banay. He was told by the other priests not to stay long there because there was nothing much to do there. He replied with the spirit that has characterized his whole priestly life, “I will look for something to do.” And he did. He visited practically every house in his parish, meeting with everyone in the process. Up to now, the people in the place which he served for two-and-a-half years remember the tall, kindly priest.

His performance and reputation must have impressed the bishop, for he was transferred to the biggest parish of the diocese, in Batangas City. Ricardo Vidal was then his bishop, and soon afterwards, he was named auxiliary bishop of Manila, the first Batangueño to be made bishop under the stewardship of then Archbishop Vidal. Bishop Rosales was given by the saintly bishop, Alfredo Obviar, his bishop’s staff, which Bishop Rosales has been using ever since.

Bishop

At the request of Rufino Jiao Santos, Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, Rosales was appointed by Pope Paul VI on August 12, 1974 to become auxiliary bishop in the nation's capital. He was assigned to help the Manila archbishop in shepherding a very big area of the archdiocese of Manila. He took care of the ecclesiastical district of Antipolo, as well as San Juan, Mandaluyong, and Grace Park. Rosales was officially ordained as bishop of the titular see of Oescus in a ceremony on October 28, 1974. In 1980, he was assigned as rector of the archdiocesan major seminary, San Carlos Seminary.

His term as rector was brief, though, for on June 9, 1982, he was appointed coadjutor bishop to the then controversial and prophetic Bishop Francisco Claver, of Diocese of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. In this moment of difficulty, Rosales recalled that a stampita (holy picture) dropped from his breviary (liturgy of the hours). It was from Mother (now Blessed) Teresa of Calcutta. When he picked it up, he saw the writing at the back. It read: “Allow God to use you without first consulting you.” These words brought peace to his soul. On September 14, 1984, Rosales succeeded the Bishop of Malaybalay taking complete authority over the diocese. He started his ministry in Malaybalay by forming with his people, especially the priest and religious there, a vision of the diocese: that of the total development of every person and all persons, brought about by Jesus Christ. In that difficult assignment, he was able to bring about the unity of the clergy as they struggled especially for justice, peace and environmental protection. He often looks back to his days there as the golden moments of his ministry.

Archbishop of Lipa and Manila

When Archbishop Mariano Gaviola of Lipa retired, Rosales was appointed on December 30, 1992 to replace him, bringing him back to the diocese where he began his priestly ministry. Rosales was elevated to become Archbishop of Lipa.

With the announced retirement of Cardinal Jaime Sin, one of the beloved architects of the People Power Movement of the EDSA Revolution, the Papal Nuncio told Archbishop Rosales of his impending appointment as archbishop of Manila. He begged the Nuncio with tears not to have him appointed, but the Nuncio did not relent. Appointed by Pope John Paul II on September 15, 2003, Rosales was installed at Manila Cathedral on November 21, 2003.

Cardinal

Coat of arms of Cardinal Rosales

Styles of Gaudencio Rosales
Reference style	His Eminence
Spoken style	Your Eminence
Informal style	Cardinal
See	Manila

Rosales's elevation to the College of Cardinals was announced on February 22, 2006. Archbishop Antonio Franco, then the Holy See Representative (Apostolic Nuncio) to the Philippines, personally made the announcement at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, where he was presiding at Mass for the 40th anniversary of the Focolare Movement.

Pope Benedict XVI created Rosales Cardinal-Priest of Santissimo Nome di Maria in Via Latina in the consistory of March 24, 2006. Rosales joined 14 others, two of them Asians, as the newest members of the College of Cardinals. Pope Benedict told the new cardinals: “I want to sum up the meaning of this new call that you have received in the word which I placed at the heart of my first Encyclical: caritas. This matches well the color of your cardinalatial robes. May the scarlet that you now wear always express the caritas Christi, inspiring you to a passionate love for Christ, for his Church and for all humanity.” A little later, he added: “I am counting on you, dear Brother Cardinals, to ensure that the principle of love will spread far and wide, and will give new life to the Church at every level of her hierarchy, in every group of the faithful, in every religious institute, in every spiritual, apostolic or humanitarian initiative.”

On February 3, 2007, Rosales was appointed for a five-year term on the 15-member Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Concerns of the Apostolic See.

In 2007, Cardinal Rosales offered his resignation from the governance of the archdiocese, as required under canon law on reaching the age of 75, but Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re communicated that the Holy See had not accepted it.

In 2008, Cardinal Rosales invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit the third largest Catholic nation in the world; however, the Pope declined it due his heavy schedule.

On October 13, 2011, months after his 79th birthday, Pope Benedict XVI finally accepted his resignation and appointed the then Bishop of Imus, Luis Antonio Tagle, as his successor.

Views

Police forces

The Church leader once said that there is no such thing as absolute freedom. Police forces violently dispersed a group of politicians, priests and nuns, including three bishops who planned to go to the San Beda College chapel to hear mass.^{[citation needed]} He expressed support for charter change but condemned politicians pushing their personal agenda in amending the constitution.

When the state of national emergency was proclaimed, Rosales asked the Filipinos to pray for peace and unity in the country and expressed hopes that the government will not abuse and curtail the rights of the people.

National Statistics Office

In 2007, Cardinal Rosales argued against the National Statistics Office (NSO) requirement that all solemnizing officers/priests undergo training before conducting wedding ceremonies. He said: "We understand the concern of the National Statistics Office (NSO) because we also know of abuses done by the so called ministers of the Gospel (not priests), but they should not be like that to us, as if we know nothing."

Gay parades

In 2008, Rosales clashed with Ang Ladlad founder Danton Remoto on the subject of allowing gays to participate, in drag, in the Flores de Mayo celebration. Rosales threatened parishes that permit cross-dressing homosexuals to play Saint Helena, or female saints in the Santacruzan or Flores de Mayo procession with official punishment and removal from mass.

Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite

In 2009, he wrote guidelines for the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, which were interpreted by observers as overly restrictive and drew a response from Darío Castrillón Hoyos, President of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, who in a letter dated 6 March 2009 wrote to him: "Your ‘Archdiocesan Guidelines’ are simply not acceptable as they stand and I ask you to reconsider them". Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos insisted that Cardinal Rosales actively promote the implementation of the motu proprio.

Abortion

On September 16, 2010, Cardinal Rosales issued a pastoral letter expressing the Catholic Church’s condemnation of abortion and recalling the excommunication imposed by the Church on those who procure it or help others to do so. "A deliberately procured abortion is a moral evil and the Catholic Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication on those who procure it and on those who help obtain abortion", the pastoral letter read.

Auxiliary Bishops

Below is the list of auxiliary bishops who served during Rosales' term as Archbishop of Msnila. The auxiliary bishops are also Vicar-Generals of the archdiocese.

• Most Rev. Teodoro Buhain (2003-2004)
• Most Rev. Bernardino Cortez (2004-2011)
• Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo (2006-2011)
• Most Rev. Socrates Villegas (2003-2004)

Vicar-Generals

Aside from the auxiliary bishops, the following priests served as Vicar-Generals of Manila during Rosales' time.

• Msgr. Josefino Ramirez, HP (2003-2010)
• Msgr. Francisco Tantoco, HP (2004-2011)

Episcopal succession

Episcopal lineage
Consecrated by:	Bruno Torpigliani
Consecrator of
Bishop	Date of consecration
Mylo Hubert Claudio Vergara	April 30, 2005
Pablo Virgilio Siongco David	10 Jul 2006
Broderick Soncuaco Pabillo	19 Aug 2006
Elenito de los Reyes Galido	8 Sep 2006
Leopoldo Corpuz Jaucian, S.V.D.	26 Mar 2007
Francisco Mendoza de Leon	1 Sep 2007

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Protacio Gungon	Rector of San Carlos Seminary 1980–1982	Succeeded by Ramon Arguelles
Preceded by Francisco F. Claver	Bishop of Malaybalay 1984–1992	Succeeded by Honesto Chaves Pacana, SJ
Preceded by Mariano Gaviola y Garcés	Archbishop of Lipa 1992–2003	Succeeded by Ramon Arguelles
Preceded by Jaime Sin	Archbishop of Manila 2003–2011	Succeeded by Luis Antonio Tagle
Preceded by Paulos Tzadua	Cardinal-Priest of SS. Nome di Maria in Via Latina March 24, 2006 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent

External links

• Cardinal Rosales Concurrently Named Apostolic Administrator of the Suffragan Diocese of Pasig
• Vatican Cardinal Bio
• Welcome to Archdiocese of Manila Official Website
• Gaudencio Borbón Cardinal Rosales (Catholic-Hierarchy)
• catholic pages
• Rosales Webpage
• Asia News