It may be months before Manila has new archbishop

It may take months or even years to find a replacement for Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.

The most coveted church post in the country has a history of wide gaps in succession.

Sin’s predecessor, Rufino Cardinal Santos, died sometime in 1973 but Sin was only named to the position in March 1974. Meanwhile, Santos’ predecessor, the first Filipino Archbishop of Manila, Gabriel Reyes, died in 1952 but was only succeeded by Santos the following year.

This gap in succession, though, has narrowed over the years compared to the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries when it would take as much as eight years for a new Archbishop to be named. By the 19th century the gap for succession was reduced to two years.

As a rule, priests are expected to tender their resignation at the age of 75 but it will only be effective once it is accepted by the Pope.

Sin celebrated his 75th birthday on Aug. 31 and though his resignation is not yet officially accepted by the Vatican, it is widely believed that it will be accepted in view of his poor health condition.

Fr. James Reuter, director of the Catholic Church’s National Office of Mass Media, earlier said that Pope John Paul II will choose Sin’s successor from the country’s 13 archbishops.

Once appointed as Archbishop of Manila, the appointee will soon be elevated to Cardinal, an elite Church group which selects the Pope.

The Archdiocese of Manila was elevated to "cardinalate" during the time of Santos, giving its Archbishop the title of Cardinal.

Before Sin succeeded Santos in 1974 as Archbishop of Manila, he was the Archbishop of Jaro, Iloilo.