Congratulations to
our new cardinal

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor ERIC T. LORETIZO Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

A very welcome news to Catholics, not only the Philippines, but also in other parts of Asia is the elevation to the office of cardinal of one of the country's most prominent prelates, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Manila.

The appointment of Archbishop Rosales by Pope Benedict XVI was revealed to the Filipino people Wednesday by the Papal Numcio, Archbishop Antonio Franco. Significantly, he was named by the Holy Father during the consistory held in the Vatican for the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, the first Pope himself.

Rosales had succeeded the late Cardinal Jaime Sin in 2003. He had been ordained priest in 1958 and became a bishop in 1974.

He will be the sixth Filipino to be bestowed the distinction of becoming a Prince of the Church. When he joins the College of Cardinals, he will bring with him years of experience as parish priest, as bishop and a seminary rector, and as a one-time auxiliary or assistant of the highly respected and very prominent Cardinal Sin.

Named by the Holy Father at the same consistory on Wednesday were 14 other cardinals, two of them from Asia - Bishops Joseph Sen from Hongkong, and Archbishop Nicolas Cheong-Jin-Suk of Seoul, South Korea.

The appointment of Archbishop Rosales, who will henceforth be addressed as His Eminence, will return to three the number of Filipino cardinals. The other two are Cardinal Jose Sanchez who is, however, assigned in Rome, and Cardinal Ricardo Vidal who is based in Cebu, but who has already submitted his retirement bid to the Vatican.

The new cardinal will be installed at appropriate ceremonies in Rome on March 24.

We congratulate our new Prince of the Church and pray that he will always have the Lord's blessing and guidance.*