Manila (AsiaNews) - Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Manila, will commemorate the Golden Jubilee of his priestly ordination at the Manila Cathedral on Saturday April 3, 2004. Concelebrants will include Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Manila, Cardinal Ricardo Vidal of Cebu and Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Antonio Franco as well as priests of Manila and its surrounding dioceses.

The Cardinal was ordained fifty years ago, on April 3, 1954, in Roxas City, Capiz in the southern Philippines. He began his illustrious service to the Church as a missionary priest in the hinterlands of Panay Island, against the wishes of his bishop who wanted him to pursue further studies in Rome.

Known for his outspokenness and courage, Cardinal sin played significant roles in key historic events in the country: the first Rosary Revolution of 1986, which paved the way for the restoration of democracy after the 20-year authoritarian rule of Ferdinand Marcos, and in the 2nd Rosary Revolution which ousted former President Joseph Estrada.

On August 31st, 2003, his 75th birthday, Cardinal Sin retired as mandated by the Catholic Church's canons. The Holy Father John Paul II accepted his resignation on September 15th, and named his successor Archbishop Rosales, then the archbishop of Lipa.

The Holy Father has sent a two-page special greeting in Latin to the Cardinal to congratulate him on his Golden Jubilee. The Pope said the occasion is a fitting celebration of the gift of the priesthood of Cardinal Sin. He said the Cardinal's service to the Church, especially in his long and eventful tenure as Archbishop of Manila, reflected his fruitful shepherding of his flock and of his love for Christ and the Gospel. (S.E.)