Pope Benedict XVI yesterday accepted the resignation of Palo Archbishop Pedro Dean and named Archbishop Jose Palma of Calbayog as his successor.

In February 2005, Archbishop Dean tendered his resignation to the Holy Father in accordance with the Canon Law which requires priests to submit their resignation to the Pontiff when they reach the age of 75.

The Pope’s acceptance of Dean’s resignation was released yesterday by Monsignor Jain Mendez, charge d’ affaires of the Nunciature through the National Office of Mass Media (NOMM).

While the Pope has already accepted his resignation, Dean will remain as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Palo until Archbishop Palma is installed as its new archbishop.

Archbishop Jose Palma, 56, was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 26 and consecrated as bishop at the age of 47.

Aside from Palma, the Pope also appointed Monsignor Rodolfo Beltran as the new apostolic vicar for Bontoc-Lagawe.

Beltran, 57, succeeds Bishop Cornelio Wigwigan who died shortly after being appointed bishop for Bontoc-Lagawe.

Before his appointment, Beltran was the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao.

No dates have been set for the installation of both Archbishop Jose Palma as Archbishop of Palo and Monsignor Beltran as apostolic vicar of Bontoc- Lagawe.

In a related development, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales arrived in Rome yesterday to prepare for his elevation to the Cardinalate scheduled at the Vatican at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 24.

Rosales was accompanied by his liturgist, Fr. Genaro Diwa and personal secretary Fr. Regie Malicdem.

Rosales will be the sixth Filipino appointed as Cardinal by the Catholic Church. Before him were Jose Cardinal Sanchez, Julio Cardinal Rosales, Rufino Cardinal Santos, Jaime Cardinal Sin and Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

Cardinal Rosales is scheduled to return to Manila on March 30, in time to officiate a thanksgiving mass at the Manila Cathedral on April 1.