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	Tagle Appointed Manila Archbishop By Raymund F. Antonio Manila Bulletin October 13, 2011 http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/337637/vatican-appoints-rosales-replacement MANILA, Philippines — The Vatican has appointed a staunch defender of the Catholic faith as the new patriarch of the Archdiocese of Manila, replacing retired Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales. Rome picked Imus (Cavite) Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle to head the richest, as well as the most influential archdiocese in the Philippines, making him the 32nd archbishop of Manila. Tagle's selection comes at a most crucial time with the Philippine Congress deliberating on a contentious bill on reproductive health which the Catholic Church is opposing. The appointment was officially announced in Rome at 12 noon Thursday (6 p.m. Manila time). The Apostolic Nunciature in Manila relayed the information to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in a letter. "I write to inform you that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed His Excellency Most Reverend Luis Antonio Tagle, until now Bishop of Imus, as Archbishop of Manila," said Monsignor Gabor Pinter, charge d' affaires. The outgoing Manila Cardinal Rosales was already up for retirement four years ago, when he turned 75, the mandatory age of retirement for priests and bishops. However, the Holy See deferred Rosales's retirement while Rome scouted for his replacement. Rosales turned 79 last August 10 and has served as Manila Archbishop for seven years. He replaced the late Manila archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin. With his retirement, Cardinal Rosales said he is looking forward to going home to his home province of Batangas. "I'm going to Batangas…other people really thought I'm from the Visayas because I speak their language," said Rosales chuckling. Asked of his greatest achievement, Rosales cited his encounters with various people, particularly the poor. "I think it's having been given the opportunity to get to know the poor more, the good-hearted people, the generous people who continuously help the Church. I thank all of them," he said. As the new Manila archbishop, Tagle takes over a powerful post in an archdiocese that, historically, has weighed in on national political issues. By virtue of its ecclesiastical position, the archdiocese is arguably the most influential local church in the Philippines. As the new head of Manila's Roman Catholic Church, he is also likely to be named as the country's next cardinal, just like his predecessors. Church observers said the next Manila archbishop faces a crucial role on various socio-political issues, including the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill. Sin played this role to the hilt, leading the bloodless People Power events that toppled the governments of then Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada. But under Rosales, the influence of the Manila archdiocese was tempered, although not necessarily less belligerent. Rosales has led public protests against the RH bill, although he has achieved minor successes in galvanizing public support, compared with Sin. Church observers say that under Tagle, Church and State relations may improve a bit, owing to Tagle's close ties with the Cojuangcos, President Benigno Aquino III's relatives.
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