He was 76. Jaime Cardinal Sin had been ill with kidney problems and diabetes. Because of it, he was unable to attend the Vatican conclave that chose a new pope. That was in April this year.
Jaime Cardinal Sin passed away at dawn on Tuesday, June 21. According to Father Jun Sescon, the Cardinal was taken to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan, Metro Manila on Sunday evening, June 19. He was with fever and suffering of multiple organ failure. Cardinal Sin had breathing difficulty towards his end, said Sescon, but “he was ready for his final journey.”
Before his death, Sin retired as Manila Archbishop. The Philippines turned to him for guidance in times of political turmoil. He played a key role in the people power revolts that ousted two presidents of the Philippines.
Sin was succeeded by Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales. According him, “Cardinal Sin was not only a prince of the church or a plain bishop, he is a prophet of our time. His life was a great gift to the church.”
Cardinal Sin was vocal. He took controversial stance on matters like birth control to poverty, politics and even the US – led war in Iraq. He was known for his dedication and very high sense of humor.
Sin was highly critical of the late President Ferdinand Marcos’ military rule. “My duty is to put Christ in politics. Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of our nation,” Sin pointed out.
Sin is the 14th child of the 16 children of a Chinese father and an Aklanon mother. He was born in new Washington, Aklan on August 31, 1928. In 1954, he was ordained as a priest. In 1974, Sin was officially inducted as the archbishop of Manila at age 47 which make him the youngest member of the Vatican’s College of Cardinals.
February 1986, Cardinal Sin became instrumental in the ousting of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos in a peaceful revolution. This was repeated in January 2001 when he supported another revolt that toppled President Joseph Estrada from Philippines presidency.
Because of his health problem Jaime Cardinal Sin retired in 2003. /MP
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