Rogelio del Rosario Martinez

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is del Rosario and the surname or paternal family name is Martinez.

Rogelio Martinez
Pope Michael II
InstalledJuly 23, 2023
PredecessorDavid Bawden
Opposed toFrancis
Orders
Ordination2003
by Bishop Joseph V. Galaroza
Consecration6 February 2010
by Archbishop Joel Clemente
Personal details
Born
Rogelio del Rosario Martinez Jr.
NationalityFilipino
DenominationConclavist traditionalist Catholic (since 2020)
Formerly
Independent Catholic (2002-2020)
Roman Catholic (until 2002)
SpouseLinda Jacinto
Children1
MottoQuarite Prime Regnum Dei ("Seek first the kingdom of God" [Mt. 6:33])
Coat of arms

Rogelio del Rosario Martinez Jr., who took the name Pope Michael II,[1] is a Filipino conclavist bishop claimant to the papacy. He was elected by lot at a conclave held in Vienna, Austria, in July 2023.

Born in Manila, Philippines, Martinez graduated from a Roman Catholic seminary in 1997 but did not seek holy orders. After teaching law at university level, Martinez came into contact with the independent catholic movement in 2002 and was ordained as a priest in 2003. Elevated to bishop in 2010, Martinez made a profession of faith to David Bawden, known as Pope Michael I, in 2019. David Bawden was an American conclavist who believed that the Catholic Church had apostatized from the Catholic faith since Vatican II, and that there had been no legitimate popes elected since the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958. Bawden organised a conclave at which he was elected Pope in 1990.

Pope Michael I died in August 2022. Martinez was elected as his successor, choosing the papal name Michael II. Pope Michael II continues to reside in the Philippines and speaks both English and Tagalog. He is married with one child.

  1. ^ "The Name MIchael". The Olive Tree. VIII (8). September 2023.