(Message of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, on the occasion of his 50 th anniversary as a priest on March 23, 2008. This was read by His Excellency Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines during the Mass of the Chrism on Holy Thursday, March 20, 2008, at the Manila Cathedral.This is a translation from the original which is in Latin.)

To Our Venerable Brother

GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL ROSALES

Archbishop of Manila

As the fiftieth anniversary of your presbyteral ordination happily approaches, it is indeed fitting that among things, the entire community of Manila surrounds you with distinguished signs of honor. Not only your family and relatives commemorate the event, but also the faithful themselves, the sacred ministers, and your brother bishops who associate with you in the apostolic work.

We do not wish to lay aside from memory the early years of your priestly ministry in the Church of Lipa, when you took great care to form young seminarians, solicitously moderated the Legion of Mary, and successfully fostered the spiritual life of the faithful of Batangas City.

Persuaded by your deeply-rooted virtues, Our Predecessor Paul VI, of happy memory, enlisted you among the Successors of the Apostles and assigned you to the Church of Manila to serve as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese. Afterwards you were appointed Coadjutor of the Diocese of Malaybalay. Thereafter you returned to your native Metropolitan See of Lipa where you performed effectively the manifold task of shepherding.

The community of Manila, to which you devote yourself, now enjoys the benefits of your pastoral zeal, so that it continues to flourish and spiritually progress. Furthermore, with superior skill you earnestly take part in important affairs involving the commissions of your Bishops’ Conference and the Roman Curia, thereby giving assistance to the entire Catholic Church.

It was Our will and pleasure to enroll you in the rank of Cardinals as Our recognition of your excellent qualities and admiration for your zeal. We greatly rejoice with you for being counted among the Cardinals. As the joyful remembrance of your priesthood approaches, together with your family and followers, we hasten to congratulate you. We pray to our generous Lord to reward you abundantly for your meritorious work. We likewise impart from Our heart Our Apostolic Blessing to you, Our Venerable Brother, and extend it lovingly to your Auxiliary Bishops and your entire ecclesial community.

Given from the Vatican this 7 th day of February 2009 in the third year of Our Pontificate.

BENEDICT PPXVI