Archibishop Oscar Cruz dies at 85

August 26, 2020

Former Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz Wednesday passed away at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City after succumbing to a lingering illness. He was 85.

In a report by CBCP News, Cruz passed away at around 6:45 am Wednesday at the hospital, where he was rushed back in August 10.

"On August 10, his condition deteriorated that he was shifted to the hospital," said the official news agency of the CBCP.

Cruz was born in Balanga, Bataan in 1934, and ordained as priest for the Archdiocese of Manila in 1962.  His frank and witty remarks on social issues especially illegal gambling, endeared him to reporters long after he stepped down as president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines from 1995 to 1999.

In 1991, Cruz was appointed Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan (Pangasinan), which he served for 18 years.

When Cruz headed CBCP, its offices on media, legal, women, and research were established.

Cruz retired in 2009 at the age of 75. DMS