MANILA, Oct. 21, 2011—Aside from being the administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila until his successor is installed, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales will also remain as the chairman of the Episcopal Commission on the Pontifico Collegio Filippino (PCF).
PCF rector Fr. Gregory Gaston said that despite the Vatican’s acceptance of Rosales’ resignation as Archbishop of Manila, the Cardinal will remain with the Commission until Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos formally succeeds him on December 1.
In a letter sent to the retiring Cardinal from Rome, Italy, Gaston personally thanked Rosales for the Manila Archdiocese’s consistent support to the Collegio, since the time of Jaime Cardinal Sin.
“We have received news of the Holy Father’s acceptance of your resignation. While we of course feel sad that you will be leaving us as Archbishop of Manila, still we are happy because we know you will always be united with us,” he said.
“As for the Collegio, thank you too for guiding us as Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the PCF. From this perspective we cannot say goodbye to you yet, since we know we are still under your guidance and care for a few more months,” Gaston added.
Rosales, together with CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar and other outgoing CBCP officials, will vacate their posts on December 1 to give way for the new administration headed by incoming CBCP chief, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, who is an alumnus of the PCF. (Kris Bayos/CBCPNews)